Johnston, Andrew, House
Also known as: VDHR File No. 279-01
Why it's listed
Built in 1829, this two-story brick house on North Main Street in Pearisburg, Virginia, was the home of Andrew Johnston, a Scottish-descended settler who, with his brother David, surveyed and laid out the town lots of the new county seat. The house follows a Federal-style central-passage plan, with Flemish bond brick, a cavetto cornice, exterior end chimneys and a front portico with Ionic and Tuscan columns. Inside, details include sunburst carving on the dining room mantel, six-panel doors and original brass rim locks. Andrew's eldest son, Dr. Harvey G. Johnston, inherited the property and built a small doctor's office on the lot between 1857 and 1859, where he and his son later practiced medicine. A brick garage from the mid-twentieth century does not contribute to the property's character. The Johnston family gave the property to the Giles County Historical Society in 1985, and it now serves as a museum and research center. It was recognized for its architecture and its link to a prominent local family.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C at the local level in architecture, as a well-preserved example of a Federal-style central-passage brick house. It also reflects the standing of the Johnston family, early settlers who laid out Pearisburg and included a prominent local physician.
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 93000041, listed February 11, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 N. Main St., Pearisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Giles County |
| Listed | February 11, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000041 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1829-1859 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Donated to the Giles County Historical Society in 1985 and used as a museum and research center. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.32832, -80.73601 (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 93000041.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14711967
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.