Bloomsbury
Why it's listed
Bloomsbury is a 377-acre farm property in rural Orange County, Virginia, about two miles west of the town of Orange. Its focal point is a frame farmhouse that grew in stages. The original one-and-a-half-story section, built for the Taylor family, is dated by family tradition to 1722, though the architecture suggests no later than the mid-1700s. Around 1797, after William Quarles bought the property, a two-story Federal-style block was added at right angles, and early lean-tos flank it. The older section has an unusual floorplan and a U-plan stair, described as unknown elsewhere in Virginia, with a landing family tradition calls a musicians' gallery. Most original interior and exterior detailing survives, and the house was restored in the 1960s. The grounds include a sunken garden and bowling green, a smokehouse and two family cemeteries. The nomination presents the house as an outstanding, largely unaltered example of early vernacular architecture, enhanced by its agricultural setting.
Significance in brief: The house is a largely unaltered example of early vernacular Virginia domestic architecture. Its original section has an unusual floorplan and a U-plan stair of a form unknown elsewhere in Virginia. It also keeps late-Georgian and Federal interior detailing. The surrounding sunken garden and bowling green, cemeteries and rural setting add to its value.
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 92000044, listed February 27, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off VA 20 W of jct. with VA 600, Orange |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | February 27, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000044 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Southern Colonial; Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house was carefully restored in the mid-1960s and now serves as a private museum. A modern mobile home occupied by tenants stands on the property. |
| Acreage | 377 |
| Coordinates | 38.25739, -78.05864 (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 92000044.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15199868
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.