Scott House
Also known as: The Magnolia House; VDHR File No. 114-103
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 232 South Armistead Avenue in Hampton, Virginia, this large Queen Anne house, known as the Magnolia House, was constructed as a showpiece for William Walker Scott and his wife Cora. Scott was a Chesapeake Bay pilot who later owned a chain of motion picture theaters on the Peninsula. The house has an asymmetrical facade, a cross gable, and a wrap-around porch carried on fourteen fluted Doric-inspired columns. Inside, a central living hall is divided from the flanking rooms by fluted Corinthian column screens, and the rooms contain decorated tile fireplaces, cased windows and an elaborate staircase with finials resembling magnolia buds. The building was stuccoed in 1915 and gained a small rear addition in 1920. After Cora Scott died in 1950 it was divided into apartments, with little change to the original fabric. It now operates as a restaurant. Its high level of preserved detail is the basis for its listing as an outstanding local example of the style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptionally well-preserved local example of the Late Victorian Queen Anne style under Criterion C. It retains most of its original fittings and fixtures, including Corinthian column screens, tiled fireplaces and a detailed staircase. It was built as a showpiece for the Scott family, whose head, William Walker Scott, was a Chesapeake Bay pilot and theater owner.
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 99000967, listed August 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 232 S. Armistead Ave., Hampton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Hampton |
| Listed | August 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000967 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a restaurant with a commercial kitchen and office; the first floor and two second-floor rooms are open to the public, while five other second-floor rooms have not been rehabilitated. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 37.02294, -76.35014 (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 99000967.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15275732
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.