McIlwaine House
Also known as: James-McIlwaine House
Why it's listed
This Federal-style frame house in Petersburg, Virginia, was built in 1815 by George H. Jones, who served as the city's mayor in 1815 and 1816 and lost the property to debts in 1820. It later took its common name from Archibald Graham McIlwaine, an industrialist and financier who lived there from 1831 to 1878. The house has a high English basement, three bays, a pedimented porch with Doric columns, and modillion cornices. A 1 1/2-story wing holds a parlor with elaborate Adam style carving. Its woodwork shows a deliberate preference for wood, with no plaster or ceramic ornament. The nomination considers it the best surviving example of early 19th century wooden houses in the city and a rare record of Petersburg craftsmanship. Threatened with demolition for a highway project in 1971, it was acquired in 1972 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and moved eight blocks to Market Square, where restoration was well advanced.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest surviving example of Petersburg's early 19th century wooden domestic architecture. Its interior, especially the wing parlor with Adam style moldings and carvings, shows the work of skilled local craftsmen who preferred wood over plaster or ceramic ornament. Few well-documented examples of Petersburg artisans' work survive.
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 73002217, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Market Square at corner of Pelham and Cockade Alleys, Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002217 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | George H. Jones (built the house in 1815) |
| Architectural style | Federal, with late Adam style interior woodwork |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in 1972 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities to Market Square; relocation and restoration were stated as eighty per cent complete, with the building in fair condition and preservation work in progress. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Within district | Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 37.23329, -77.40386 (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 73002217.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.