Arnheim
Also known as: 26-0002
Why it's listed
Arnheim is a red brick house overlooking the New River Valley in Radford, Virginia. Dr. John Blair Radford, a physician and farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Campbell Taylor built it between 1838 and 1840 on land from her family. The 40-foot-square house has a four-room plan with no central passage, a hip roof of slate shingles, and Federal mantels. Reportedly, the bricks were made on site. Dr. Radford was a leading figure in the growth of the hamlet of Lovely Mount into Central Depot, later the city of Radford, and he promoted the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad and later coal-related railroad ventures. The family kept the house through three generations until it was sold to the city in 1931. In 1939 it became a home economics annex for Radford High School, with new wings, porches and a relocated staircase. It was vacated in the 1990s and is now being readied for use as a city history museum. It is the oldest surviving brick dwelling in Radford.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for local significance under Criterion A for community planning and development, because Dr. Radford helped establish Central Depot and bring the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and the city is named for him. Under Criterion C it is a rare Federal/Greek Revival house in a style more typical of Tidewater and Piedmont plantation houses, and it is the oldest surviving brick dwelling in Radford.
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 02000589, listed May 30, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 40 Dalton Dr., Radford |
|---|---|
| County | Radford |
| Listed | May 30, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000589 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1931 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated in the early 1990s when the school program ended; owned by the Radford City School Board and being prepared for restoration as a city history museum under the Radford Heritage Foundation. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.13646, -80.56868 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 02000589.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16161685
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.