La Crosse Hotel
Also known as: DHR file no. 250-5001-0003
Why it's listed
Built in 1917 across the tracks from the Seaboard Air Line depot in La Crosse, Virginia, this two-story brick hotel served travelers and townspeople for decades. It has an L-shaped plan, a hipped metal roof, and a full-width screened front porch mixing Colonial Revival and Craftsman details. Inside are a lobby, a large parlor with a brick fireplace, a dining room, and guest rooms off double-loaded corridors. Dark varnished trim survives, as do colorful floral linoleum floor coverings in many upstairs rooms. John H. Coulter built the hotel, and Belle Willis ran it for more than 25 years, followed by the Rockwell family. Guests included traveling salesmen, railroad officials, long-term boarders such as teachers, and the entertainer Minnie Pearl. Meals were served three times a day in the communal dining room. The building is recognized for its commercial role in the town and for its well-preserved early twentieth-century design. The Town of La Crosse bought it in 2003 for use as a visitor center.
Significance in brief: The hotel is argued to be an outstanding, locally significant example of an early 20th century small-town railroad hotel with excellent integrity. It is significant in Commerce for serving travelers and locals, especially through its communal dining, under three women managers. It is significant in Architecture for its Colonial Revival design and intact interior finishes.
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 08000876, listed September 12, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 Central Ave., La Crosse |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | September 12, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000876 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built in 1917 by John H. Coulter, per the property history) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Town of La Crosse, which is rehabilitating it as a visitor center; the hotel closed in 2001 and the form lists current use as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 36.69760, -78.09290 (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 08000876.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712680
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.