Boush-Tazewell House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame mansion at 6225 Powhatan Avenue in Norfolk was built in 1783-84 for John Boush, a civic leader whose grandfather was the borough's first mayor. It was the first important private residence raised in the city after the Revolution devastated it. The house is five bays wide, with a slate deck-on-hip roof and a two-level pedimented portico on the river front supported by slender Tuscan columns. Inside are a center hall plan, elliptical arches and original folding doors. In 1810 Littleton Waller Tazewell acquired it; he later served as a U.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia, and notable visitors included Lafayette and Andrew Jackson. When the old neighborhood became commercialized, the house was carefully dismantled and re-erected about 1902 on a similar waterside site near the Lafayette River, with most original materials saved. It is listed as a rare, little-altered Late-Georgian town mansion.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding and rare example of a formal Late-Georgian town mansion. It is tied to several prominent Virginians, including John Boush and Governor Littleton Waller Tazewell. It was the first important private residence built in Norfolk after the city's devastation during the Revolution, and its two-level portico is noted as an early use of that form.
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 74002238, listed July 18, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6225 Powhaten Ave., Norfolk (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk |
| Listed | July 18, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1783-84 |
| Architect / builder | Contractor named Emory carried out the 1902 move; original architect not stated |
| Architectural style | Late-Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, structurally sound, little altered, and undergoing a major renovation at the time of nomination; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.89797, -76.31337 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 74002238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16845305
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.