Glen Arvon
Why it's listed
Glen Arvon is a brick plantation house on a 1187-acre working farm above the James River in Fluvanna County, Virginia. Built around 1836, it has a five-bay river front and a land front sheltered by a two-story Greek Doric portico. The brickwork is refined Flemish bond, with marble sills and lintels and a balustraded hipped roof. Inside, a central hall holds an elliptical arch and a spiral stair with carved brackets. The house was one of two identical dwellings, the other being Point of Fork downstream, built at the same time by brothers William and James Galt, great-nephews of Richmond merchant William Galt. Together the houses illustrate the move from the delicate Federal style toward Greek Revival design in 1830s Virginia. After William Galt II died in 1851, the estate passed through several owners, including Franklin Stearns, and a two-story brick servants' house, now a guest house, survives nearby.
Significance in brief: The house shows the high architectural quality of antebellum mansions along the upper James River. It is one of a pair of identical houses, with Point of Fork downstream, built at the same time by two brothers. Both combine delicate Federal-period proportions with large Greek Doric porticoes, showing the shift from the Adam style to Greek Revival in 1830s Virginia.
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 76002106, listed May 28, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Bremo Bluff near jct. of VA 655 and VA 656, Bremo Bluff |
|---|---|
| County | Fluvanna County |
| Listed | May 28, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1836 |
| Architectural style | Transitional Federal to Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and working farm; the exterior is described as excellently preserved and well maintained, with the interior modernized. |
| Acreage | 1187 |
| Coordinates | 37.70444, -78.24639 (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 76002106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15221743
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.