Chamberlin Hotel
Also known as: 114-0114
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay on Old Point Comfort beside Fort Monroe, this U-shaped hotel of concrete frame and brick veneer was built in 1927-1928 in a Georgian-influenced Colonial Revival style. Richmond architect Marcellus Wright, Sr. produced the design, with Whitney Warren of Warren and Wetmore consulting at the request of the Vanderbilt hotel interests that helped finance it. It is the fourth in a series of resort hotels serving Fort Monroe visitors, following an earlier Chamberlin lost to fire in 1920. Facade details include arcades with Palladian-style windows, pediments with swags and wreaths, and stepped upper pavilions. For many years it was the only resort hotel on the Chesapeake Bay, reached by steamship and railroad. During World War II the Navy used it to house officers and families, and its ornate cupolas were replaced by anti-aircraft batteries. Interiors have been altered, though the main-floor dining room and basement pool retain original character. The hotel is valued as an example of a late-1920s Georgian-style resort hotel.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is an excellent example of a late-1920s Georgian-style American resort hotel, with Beaux-Arts influence, designed by prominent Richmond architect Marcellus Wright, Sr. It was long the only resort hotel on the Chesapeake Bay and served Fort Monroe visitors. During World War II it housed military officers and their families.
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 07000190, listed March 21, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | #2 Fenwick Rd., Fort Monroe, Hampton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Hampton |
| Listed | March 21, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000190 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Marcellus Wright, Sr./Warren and Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (Georgian), Beaux-Arts interpretation |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a hotel, with good condition and altered interiors; the upper floors were renovated after 1979. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Fort Monroe |
| Coordinates | 37.00087, -76.31288 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 07000190.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7722033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.