Tree Hill
Why it's listed
Tree Hill is a plantation house on a bluff above the James River bottom lands, just outside Richmond in Henrico County. It began in the late eighteenth century as a two-story frame farmhouse with a side-hall plan. Additions turned it into a center-hall house with one-story wings, and by the mid-nineteenth century into a double-pile Greek Revival plantation seat. A modern two-story portico was added later. Foundations show the sequence of building, and a 1796 insurance policy for Miles Selden describes an early form of the house. Two early outbuildings survive, a frame kitchen and a smokehouse. Miles Seldon bought the property in 1778, and it later passed to William Roane and then to the Stearns family. In April 1865 the land served as a camp for Union troops soon to occupy Richmond. The nominated 320 acres preserve open land visible from downtown Richmond, which the nomination describes as the first of the historic plantations along Route 5 toward Williamsburg.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house as the home of two prominent Henrico families, the Seldens and the Roanes, and as a place connected to the preliminary surrender of Richmond to Union forces in 1865. It also stresses the house's growth through additions and its commanding view of the James River bottom lands and the Richmond skyline. The open acreage is described as the urban area's last rural backdrop and as important to the scenic integrity of the Route 5 plantation corridor.
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 74002127, listed October 17, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 5, Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Henrico County |
| Listed | October 17, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002127 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; the Burlee family maintains it as a working farm. |
| Acreage | 320 |
| Coordinates | 37.49635, -77.41315 (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 74002127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713377
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.