Old Mansion
Also known as: Bowling Green
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Why it's listed
Old Mansion is a one-and-one-half-story brick house near Bowling Green in Caroline County, Virginia, dating to about 1670. The original block has dormers, a jerkin head roof and exterior chimneys, with Flemish bond brickwork above an English bond water table and nine-over-nine windows under rubbed brick arches. A frame addition with a gambrel roof was added to the rear in the mid-eighteenth century, and a later porch covers the first-floor facade. Nearly all original interior features survive, and the house has never been restored. It was first called Bowling Green, after the large bowling green on its lawn. The name changed when Major John Hoomes, the first owner, donated land for a courthouse and gave the estate's name to the town. The property had a race track around the lawn and was known for its stables. George Washington and some of his troops camped on the lawn, and Lafayette was honored at a banquet there after Yorktown. It was listed for its architecture and its role as a social center.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best preserved seventeenth-century houses in Virginia. It also had historical interest as an important social center for the area in the late eighteenth century, hosting George Washington and Lafayette.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000227, listed November 12, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of jct. of U.S. 301 and VA 207, Bowling Green |
|---|---|
| County | Caroline County |
| Listed | November 12, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000227 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and never restored; the form marks it as occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Within district | Bowling Green Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.04448, -77.35354 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084470
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.