Point of Honor
Why it's listed
Point of Honor is a two-story Federal mansion of stuccoed brick in Lynchburg, Virginia, built for the physician Doctor George Cabell, who bought the land in 1805 and had the house ready by 1806. The facade has a three-bay center flanked by octagonal-ended projections, a shallow hipped roof with a bracketed cornice, and original stone steps with wrought iron railings. Inside, the drawing room door surround and mantel carry pineapple and tassel-and-swag motifs. The house took its name in 1812 after a bloodless duel nearby. Later residents included the Langhorne brothers, the Daniel family and Colonel Robert L. Owen. The architect-builder is unknown, but the design closely resembles Richmond townhouses linked to Benjamin Henry Latrobe. The land was once part of the Lynch family holdings, whose ferry became the nucleus of Lynchburg. The city now owns the house, and it was being restored as a museum, with an informal park above it overlooking the James River.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive and unusually sophisticated example of early-nineteenth-century domestic architecture, with a design related to Richmond townhouses tied to Benjamin Henry Latrobe. It is also associated with several prominent Lynchburg families and with the Lynch family land that gave rise to the city. It is described as one of the city's oldest and finest houses.
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 70000872, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 112 Cabell St., Lynchburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Lynchburg |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000872 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1806) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Lynchburg; listed as in fair condition, with restoration in process and being prepared to serve as a museum. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Daniel's Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.42034, -79.14384 (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 70000872.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7208225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.