Brook Road Marker, Jefferson Davis Highway
Also known as: Vdhr #127-6150-0008
Why it's listed
Set in the grassy median of Brook Road (U.S. Route 1) in Henrico County, just north of Richmond, this memorial is a gray granite boulder with rough-cut edges, about 42 inches tall, resting on a low concrete base. One bronze plaque on a sloped upper face reads "Jefferson Davis Highway Virginia," and a second names the five Richmond-area United Daughters of the Confederacy chapters that erected it on June 3, 1927. It was the first of sixteen such markers placed in Virginia between 1927 and 1947 along the Jefferson Davis Highway, a cross-country memorial route promoted by the organization beginning in 1913. Its listing rests on its link to the era of privately named highways and on its role as a major undertaking by a women's organization. The marker has kept its original location, design and materials, and a local chapter still maintains it. Civil War fortifications and Brook Hill lie nearby.
Significance in brief: It was the first of sixteen markers placed in Virginia along the Jefferson Davis Highway, a memorial route promoted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The nomination finds it significant under Criterion A in Transportation and Social History, tied to the era of privately named highways and to a notable achievement by a women's organization. It retains integrity of location, design, materials and association.
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 07000765, listed July 24, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 0.2 mi. E of jct. of Hillard and Brook Rds., Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Henrico County |
| Listed | July 24, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000765 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1913-1947 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still standing in its original location in the Brook Road median; maintained by a local United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.61709, -77.34389 (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 07000765.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4974355
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.