Almshouse, The (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: West Building; Richmond Nursing Home; See Also:Almshouse, The
Why it's listed
This boundary increase adds the West Building and a two-story garage to the Almshouse complex on Hospital Street in Richmond, Virginia. The West Building has three two-story pavilions with raised basements, linked by two-story hyphens, and appears to date from 1908. It operated as a charity hospital for Black residents of Richmond, and medical students from the Medical College of Virginia received clinical instruction there. Later changes include a rear wing added in 1929, replacement of open frame galleries with enclosed glass-and-concrete porches in 1953, and extensive interior partitioning. The garage is of unknown history but is counted as contributing. The addition is tied to the early 20th-century reform movement in Virginia, when the city council authorized a home for its Black poor in 1908. A 1909 state report described Richmond's almshouse as the largest in Virginia and noted that residents were housed separately by race. The Almshouse, later the Richmond Nursing Home, served the community until the late 1970s.
Significance in brief: The form ties the complex to the early 20th-century Progressive Era reform of Virginia's welfare institutions. In 1908 the city council authorized a home for the city's Black poor, and the West Building served as a charity hospital for Black residents. The site reflects a long tradition of public care for the poor, shaped as much by a wish for social order as by philanthropy.
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 89001913, listed June 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 210 Hospital St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | June 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89001913 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Almshouse, later called the Richmond Nursing Home, served the community until the late 1970s. The West Building's interior has been heavily altered, and the garage is counted as a contributing building. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Shockoe Hill Burying Ground Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55321, -77.43018 (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 89001913.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16159645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.