Aventine Hall
Why it's listed
Aventine Hall is a two-story frame house in Luray, Virginia, built in 1852 for Peter Bock Borst, a northern-born lawyer who settled in the town. Borst chose the Greek Revival designs that his carpenter-builder, Mr. O'Neale, carried out. The facade carries a tetra-style Corinthian portico modeled on the Tower of the Winds in Athens, with a Doric frieze and cornice running around the whole building. Inside, a central hall plan leads to rooms with marble mantels, and the large south room is divided by a Corinthian screen of two columns. The house later served as the main building of Luray College from 1925 to 1927. It was dismantled and moved to its present site in 1937 when the Mimslyn Hotel was built. It is valued as a rare Greek Revival example in a state dominated by Georgian and Federal architecture, with a portico that looks distinctly un-Virginian.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual Greek Revival example in Virginia, where the style rarely took hold. Its large Corinthian portico based on the Tower of the Winds looks decidedly un-Virginian. The contrast between carved and plaster-mold interior ornament makes it a valuable counterpoint to the state's many Georgian and Federal buildings.
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 70000820, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 143 S. Court St., Luray |
|---|---|
| County | Page County |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000820 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1852) |
| Architect / builder | Built by carpenter-builder Mr. O'Neale for Peter Bock Borst, who selected the designs |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; the form checks occupied and private residence use. The house was dismantled and moved in 1937, and its cupola was recently rebuilt. |
| Coordinates | 38.66381, -78.46435 (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 70000820.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15194802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.