Mitchell, Gen. William, House
Also known as: Boxwood; Gen. Billy Mitchell House
Why it's listed
Boxwood is a fieldstone estate on about 120 acres south of Middleburg, Virginia, where Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell lived from 1926 until his death in 1936. William Swart built the main 2 1/2-story section in 1826. Mitchell's second wife, Elizabeth, bought the property in 1925 and added the southwest wing. The house is L-shaped, with white-painted porches and galleries set against tawny fieldstone walls, and the grounds include a caretaker's house, stable, guesthouse, barn, greenhouse and wellhouse. Mitchell was a leading advocate of air power who foresaw strategic bombardment and the role of aircraft in future wars. After his court-martial in 1925 and resignation from the Army in 1926, he kept promoting his ideas here through books, articles and speeches. He also hunted and rode with neighbors. No other Mitchell residence survives, and he lived here longer than anywhere else, which is the basis for the property's recognition.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell from 1926 until his death in 1936, longer than any other address, and no other Mitchell residences survive. Mitchell was the first great American air war strategist and a founder of the U.S. Air Force. He wrote many of his works on air power here, and the house has not been significantly altered since his time.
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 76002112, listed December 8, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.5 mi. S of Middleburg on VA 626, Middleburg |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | December 8, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002112 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1936 |
| Architect / builder | William Swart, William Mitchell |
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as in excellent condition and not significantly altered since the Mitchells lived there. |
| Acreage | 120 |
| Coordinates | 38.96063, -77.74592 (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 76002112.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5530838
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.