Centre Hill
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Centre Hill is a brick mansion on a hill overlooking the Appomattox River in Petersburg, Virginia. Robert Bolling, a member of a prominent local family, had it built in 1823 in a transitional Greek Revival style. The five-bay main block is laid in Flemish bond and has verandahs with Ionic columns and a large cupola. An east wing was added around 1850, and much of the elaborate first-floor interior decoration dates from about the same time. During the siege of Petersburg the house served as headquarters for Major General G. L. Hartsuff, and Abraham Lincoln visited him there in 1865. The Bolling family kept the house until 1901, when Charles Hall Davis bought it. President William Howard Taft was a guest there in 1909. Edgar S. Bowling bought the property in 1937 and gave it to the United States for use as a museum, which opened in 1950. Today it still serves as a local history and military museum, and it remains an important example of grand Petersburg architecture despite later changes.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a distinguished Petersburg landmark for its architecture and fine interiors, and for its long association with the Bolling and Davis families. It also has connections with two U.S. presidents: Abraham Lincoln visited General Hartsuff there in 1865, and William Howard Taft stayed as a guest in 1909. It has served as a local history and military museum.
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 72001514, listed December 27, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Center Hill Lane, Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | December 27, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001514 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Transitional Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; occupied and in use as a local history and military museum, with some alterations over time. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 37.23072, -77.40130 (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 72001514.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5062269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.