Lexington Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Alexander-Withrow House; Lee Chapel,Washington & Lee
Why it's listed
Lexington's historic district spans about 600 acres of the Valley of Virginia, taking in the northern and central parts of the city. The northern half is given over to the campuses of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. VMI's castellated barracks, designed by A. J. Davis, surround the parade ground, while Washington Hall, begun by John Jordon in 1823, anchors the Washington and Lee range beside Lee Chapel, completed in 1868. Main Street holds the commercial core, with brick rows from the early nineteenth to early twentieth century, the circa 1790 Alexander-Withrow House, and the 1843 Greek Revival Presbyterian Church. Residential streets offer temple-form houses, Picturesque cottages, and Queen Anne and Colonial Revival homes. The district was recognized for Lexington's long role as an educational center, its links to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, and a townscape little changed since the later nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Lexington has been the Valley's center of education since the later eighteenth century, with Washington and Lee and VMI as its historic and aesthetic heart. The district also preserves ties to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and a range of nineteenth-century architecture. Its overall character is described as largely unchanged since the later nineteenth century.
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). NRHP reference 72001506, listed July 26, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Chesapeake and Ohio RR, Graham and Jackson Aves., and Estill and Jordan Sts., Lexington (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Lexington |
| Listed | July 26, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001506 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (no specific dates given) |
| Architect / builder | A. J. Davis (VMI barracks and residences); John Jordon (Washington Hall, begun 1823; Stono, 1818) |
| Architectural style | Mixed: Greek Revival, Romanesque, castellated, Picturesque Cottage, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Military, Education, Architecture, Ethnic Heritage-Black |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good and altered; the district is occupied and in use for educational, commercial, residential, religious and government purposes. |
| Acreage | 600 |
| Coordinates | 37.78584, -79.44012 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 72001506.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6537821
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.