Belle Isle
Also known as: Broad Rock Island; Washington's Island; Harvey's Island; Vdhr N
Why it's listed
Belle Isle is a rocky, 54-acre island in the rapids of the James River at Richmond, Virginia. A wooded hill rises about 120 feet at its western end, while a flat, sandy area spreads to the east. The island was first known as Broad Rock Island and was owned by the Byrd family for a century. Around 1814 a nail factory was built there, followed by a mill, and the Belle Isle Manufacturing Company and later the Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works produced iron goods until 1972. Granite quarries also operated on the island. During the Civil War the eastern end held a Confederate prison camp for captured Union soldiers, opened in 1862 and closed in 1865. Overcrowding and shortages of food and shelter made it notorious. Ruins of mills, a power plant, a rolling mill and railroad piers remain, along with an artillery emplacement. The island is now a city park, listed for its industrial and military history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the island is significant under Criterion A for Richmond's industrial history, from a nail factory and mill around 1814 through the Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works, and as the site of a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp for Union soldiers from 1862 to 1865. The camp was among the South's most notorious, second in notoriety only to Andersonville. The industrial and camp areas are also thought to hold archaeological potential.
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 95000246, listed March 17, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | James R. at US 1/301, Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | March 17, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000246 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1814-1944 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER: industrial archæology |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now a city park; industrial activity has ended, the Old Dominion Iron and Nail Company having closed in 1972. Several industrial structures survive as ruins, and the artillery emplacement is in good condition. |
| Acreage | 54 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.52997, -77.45222 (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 95000246.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4883643
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.