US Post Office-Christiansburg
Also known as: DHR File No. 154-27
Why it's listed
Built in 1936 on the public square in Christiansburg, Virginia, this one-story brick post office is domestic in scale and richly detailed in the Colonial Revival manner. It has twelve-over-twelve sash windows, a denticulated cornice, a standing-seam metal gabled roof with a small cupola, and a central arched entry framed by fluted Doric columns. Inside, a tiled lobby, dark woodwork and a paneled vestibule lead to a 1938 W.P.A. mural by Paul DeTroot showing local scenes from the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars. Louis A. Simon, chief architect for the U.S. Postal Service, designed the building, and it closely resembles his post office in nearby Radford. It was listed for its architectural quality and as an example of Depression-era art used as building ornament. Later changes are minor and mostly at the rear, and the building remains the most architecturally sophisticated structure on the square.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under criterion C as a well-preserved example of the high architectural standards used for postal buildings in the second quarter of the twentieth century. It also illustrates the use of art as architectural ornament encouraged during the Depression, through a 1938 W.P.A. mural by Paul DeTroot. Alterations are minor and kept mostly to the rear.
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 90002168, listed February 1, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW corner of public square, Christiansburg |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | February 1, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90002168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, architect; Paul DeTroot, artist |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th century revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a post office; described as well preserved, with a mid-twentieth-century rear addition and replacement aluminum entry doors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Christiansburg Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.13028, -80.40907 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 90002168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713412
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.