Oakland
Why it's listed
Oakland is a plantation house and farm north of Montpelier in Hanover County, Virginia. The Nelson family built the first house in 1812 as a one-and-a-half-story farmhouse with a central hall, and it was enlarged several times in the early nineteenth century. Fire destroyed it in 1898, along with many Page and Nelson papers, and it was rebuilt on the same lines and foundations. The present house has a three-bay eastern section and a longer, irregular western wing, with white weatherboard walls, pedimented gables and dormers, and porches under the main roof. Its 1812 smokehouse and an office still stand nearby. The property is best known as the home and birthplace of novelist Thomas Nelson Page, whose short stories and novels, including Two Little Confederates and Red Rock, drew on Oakland and Hanover County. Page later served as U.S. Ambassador to Italy and died at Oakland in 1922. The house and farm remain in the Page family.
Significance in brief: Oakland was the home and birthplace of Virginia novelist Thomas Nelson Page, who drew on its people, events and legends for much of his best work, including Two Little Confederates and Red Rock. Page became a leading literary voice of the South in the late nineteenth century and later served as U.S. Ambassador to Italy. He died at Oakland in 1922.
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 74002123, listed July 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Montpelier, Montpelier |
|---|---|
| County | Hanover County |
| Listed | July 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002123 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Nelson family (original 1812 house) |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; the house is a private residence, occupied, and remains in the Page family. |
| Acreage | 145 |
| Coordinates | 37.87514, -77.66345 (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 74002123.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.