Quarters A, B, and C, Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Why it's listed
Quarters A, B, and C are three two-story Flemish-bond brick houses built as officers' residences at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, and they are still used that way. Quarters A, originally the Commandant's House, is the largest and most formal, with a Doric entrance and three-part windows under marble lintels. Quarters B and C are smaller, nearly identical mirror-image plans with pressed-brick fronts. A brick wall dating to 1803 screens the group from the street. Much original woodwork survives, and the houses are in excellent condition. Their detailing was drawn from Asher Benjamin's The Practical House Carpenter of 1830, adapted freely by the builders, so construction is dated to 1837-1842. The houses reflect the post-War of 1812 growth of the Gosport Navy Yard, the oldest naval facility in the United States. They survived the burnings of the yard in 1861 and 1862 and remain in service.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the houses are finely crafted examples of Asher Benjamin's Greek Revival style and show how architectural handbooks influenced early-nineteenth-century builder-craftsmen. They are also relics, along with Drydock No. 1, of the expansion of the Gosport Navy Yard after the War of 1812.
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 74002242, listed December 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Portsmouth |
| Listed | December 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002242 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, well maintained, and still used as residences for high-ranking officers of the shipyard. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 36.82648, -76.29723 (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 74002242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899028
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.