Diamond Hill Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Diamond Hill Historic District
Why it's listed
Sitting at the apex of Diamond Hill in Lynchburg, the hospital at 1503 Grace Street began in the home of S. W. McCorkle, built before 1871 and improved in 1875. Additions followed in 1897 and 1914, and the largest section, facing Grace Street, was completed in 1921. That section is a three-story, flat-roofed, 19-bay brick building with quoins, a central pavilion, a columned entrance and a panel carrying the date and a Masonic emblem. Inside, it had a marble foyer, a mahogany reception room, inlaid tile floors and patient rooms painted in yellow and light blue. The rear original section is brick with a standing-seam metal roof and a cupola. Local Masonic minutes place the hospital among the oldest in Virginia. The 1921 wing was designed by Lynchburg architects Craighill and Cardwell, both Masons. Its size, Neoclassical design and hilltop position make it a focal point of the neighborhood, and it was added to the Diamond Hill district in 1983.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hospital is one of the oldest in Virginia and is a major focal point of the Diamond Hill neighborhood because of its size, Neoclassical composition and hilltop location. The 1921 front addition was designed by Craighill and Cardwell, Lynchburg architects known mostly for residential work. It is also described as the most visible structure tied to the growth and longevity of the Diamond Hill preservation movement.
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 83003290, listed April 14, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Grace St., Lynchburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Lynchburg |
| Listed | April 14, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003290 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Craighill and Cardwell (1921 front addition) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 45 |
| Coordinates | 37.40773, -79.14189 (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 83003290.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.