Portsmouth Olde Towne Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Portsmouth Historic District
Why it's listed
Two additions to Portsmouth's Olde Towne Historic District bring in about four blocks of modest late 19th- and early 20th-century city housing, along with three prominent churches. Area A lies west of the original district on North Street. It holds five turn-of-the-century vernacular houses traditionally occupied by black residents, and it is anchored by Emanuel A.M.E. Church, built in 1857. That church was the first in Portsmouth built by blacks for blacks, and its congregation is the oldest black congregation in southeastern Virginia. Area B stretches between London Boulevard and Queen Street, with narrow lots, double houses, detached homes and some apartment buildings, many of which once served as both residences and offices. Court Street Baptist Church (1901-03) is a Romanesque Revival landmark, and Monumental Methodist Church (1876) is Gothic Revival. Both congregations date to the late 18th century and founded other congregations in the Tidewater area. Granite curbs and brick sidewalks match the older district. Of 49 structures, three are noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The extensions add residential neighborhoods comparable in scale and style to the original district. Area A includes Emanuel A.M.E. Church (1857), the first church built by blacks for blacks in Portsmouth and home to the oldest black congregation in southeastern Virginia. Area B adds Court Street Baptist Church (1901-03) and Monumental Methodist Church (1876), both mother churches in the Tidewater area and architectural landmarks.
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 83004251, listed October 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Green and Queen Sts., Portsmouth (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Portsmouth |
| Listed | October 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004251 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Vernacular domestic architecture with Italianate, Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne and other late 19th-century styles |
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; mostly private residences and commercial use, with 46 of 49 structures contributing and three noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 68 |
| Within district | Downtown Portsmouth Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.83793, -76.30101 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 83004251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.