Clarke-Palmore House
Also known as: Clarke Home; 043-0085
Why it's listed
Set on Marion Hill in eastern Henrico County, this brick farmhouse began in 1819 as a one-and-one-half-story Federal dwelling built for Daniel Higgenbotham of Richmond. John W. Clarke bought the property in 1855 and added a full second story in a plainer brick bond. His son-in-law, John W. Palmore, added a frame kitchen and dining wing with a wraparound porch in 1910. Two brick outbuildings survive beside the house: an early 19th-century kitchen later turned into a barn, and a smokehouse converted into a pump house with a rainwater cistern. The property stayed in one family and was farmed for generations before passing to Henrico County in 1996. It was listed for architecture because the buildings together show an evolving farm complex that kept being adapted for new uses into the early 20th century. A 2003 archaeological survey supported the property's farming history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house and its outbuildings form an intact 19th-century farm complex that keeps the character of an early Henrico County family farm. The buildings show how structures were adapted over time, with the kitchen becoming a barn and the smokehouse a pump house in the early 20th century. The property is presented as a reminder of the county's vanishing agricultural past, and it qualifies under Criterion C for architecture.
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 04000576, listed June 2, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 904 McCoul St., Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Henrico County |
| Listed | June 2, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000576 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1819-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (1819) / John W. Clarke (1855) / John W. Palmore (1910) |
| Architectural style | Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in stable condition apart from some second-floor ceiling plaster and a porch floor under reconstruction. The kitchen/barn needs stabilization. Current function is listed as a house museum, and the property is owned by Henrico County. |
| Acreage | 10.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.50791, -77.40648 (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 04000576.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5127455
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.