Kittiewan
Why it's listed
Kittiewan is a Tidewater Virginia plantation house in Charles City County, set on flat, open farmland on a peninsula north of the James River, above Kittewan Creek. The story-and-a-half, five-bay frame dwelling dates to the mid-18th century and was probably built while David Minge held the land, before his death in 1779. It rests on an English-bond foundation, has beaded weatherboards and pedimented dormers, and began as a single-pile, central-passage house with an ell. Later additions, including a post-1846 renovation under Dr. William A. Selden, changed its plan and added porches. Inside, the southeast parlor is fully paneled, with a dentil cornice, fluted Roman Doric pilasters and a late 18th-century mantel. The nomination values this woodwork highly. It also stresses that archaeological remains of vanished outbuildings and the terraced bank to the creek could add to knowledge of colonial plantation life. Minge-Harrison family ownership lasted until 1846.
Significance in brief: The nomination points to the house's finely crafted interior paneling, which it says would be noteworthy even in a much larger house, and to the late 18th-century mantels with provincial vigor. It also notes the property's long Minge-Harrison ownership and the likely archaeological remains of outbuildings that could reveal colonial plantation life.
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 79003316, listed December 28, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. SE of New Hope, New Hope |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | December 28, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003316 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and used as a private residence and agriculture; no early outbuildings survive, though archaeological remains are likely. |
| Acreage | 85 |
| Coordinates | 37.30366, -77.04754 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79003316.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712677
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.