Petersburg Breakthrough Battlefield Historic District at Pamplin Historical Park
Also known as: Vdhr # 026-5013
Why it's listed
Pamplin Historical Park occupies 415 acres in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, where Union troops broke through the Confederate defenses of Petersburg on April 2, 1865. During the preceding six months, Confederate soldiers, mostly South Carolinians under Brigadier General Samuel McGowan, built earthwork fortifications across the land, and about 1,700 linear yards survive. The district also includes four historic structures: Tudor Hall, a 1812 farmhouse enlarged in Greek Revival style in the 1850s; the Banks House, built in stages between 1750 and 1810 and used as Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters on the day of the assault; its kitchen and slave quarter; and the Gothic Revival Hart House of the 1860s. Archaeological sites mark outbuildings, winter huts and a gun battery. Newer museum buildings and reproductions are classed as noncontributing. The district was recognized for its national importance to the Petersburg Campaign, for its architecture, and for its archaeological potential.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is nationally significant under Criterion A because Union forces broke through the Confederate defenses of Petersburg here on April 2, 1865, sealing the fate of Petersburg and Richmond. It also cites the preserved Confederate earthworks, the architecture of Tudor Hall, the Banks House and the Hart House, and archaeological resources that have yielded or may yield information.
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 03001095, listed October 22, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6125 Boydton Plank Rd., 6619 Duncan Rd., Petersburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dinwiddie County |
| Listed | October 22, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001095 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1750-1865 |
| Architect / builder | C.S. Army; Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Mid-19th Century: Gothic Revival; Early Republic: Federal; Colonial: Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a museum and park; Tudor Hall was restored in 1995 to its 1864-1865 appearance. |
| Acreage | 415 |
| Coordinates | 37.18587, -77.47265 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 03001095.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.