Boswell's Tavern
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Why it's listed
Boswell's Tavern is a frame roadside inn on the north side of Route 22 near Gordonsville in Louisa County, Virginia. Its public section is a three-bay, two-story building with a gable roof and two exterior end chimneys. An innkeeper's wing, originally one and one-half stories, was later raised to two full stories. The interior keeps its original stairway, wainscoting made of wide horizontal boards, hat pegs, and the caged window between the bar area and the front porch, though the bar itself is gone. The smokehouse survives in the yard. The original owner is unknown, but Col. John Boswell is thought to have operated the tavern during its most important years, earning a wide reputation for hospitality. Lafayette camped here during the Revolutionary War before moving to cut off Cornwallis from the supply center at Charlottesville. The Marquis de Chastellux also praised the Boswells' hospitality. It is considered one of the most complete mid-eighteenth-century taverns remaining in Virginia.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most complete mid-eighteenth-century taverns surviving in Virginia, offering a clear picture of how an early crossroads public house operated. It is thought to have been run by Col. John Boswell, who gave it a wide reputation for hospitality. During the Revolutionary War Lafayette encamped there, and the Marquis de Chastellux praised its hospitality in his memoirs.
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 69000257, listed November 25, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of VA 22 and U.S. 15, Gordonsville |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Listed | November 25, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000257 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as renovated in the past decade, in an excellent state of repair and well maintained; the form marks it occupied and in good condition. |
| Within district | Green Springs Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.07072, -78.18313 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 69000257.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4948327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.