Crozet House
Also known as: Curtis Carter House
Why it's listed
Built in 1814 at 100 East Main Street in Richmond, this brick house was the work of Curtis Carter, a bricklayer who insured the ell-shaped building the following year. It is a fine example of Federal design, with symmetrical proportions, a gable roof with simple interior end chimneys, a moulded cornice, and stuccoed belt course and splayed lintels of a type seen on other Church Hill houses. Inside, the first floor keeps nineteenth century woodwork, including panelled wainscoting, Federal mantels and the original stair panelling and railing. Claudius Crozet, a French engineer who served as Virginia's state engineer, bought the house in 1828. Late in the nineteenth century it was converted into a double house and its facade modernized. A 1940 restoration returned the front to its Federal character, restored the front hall and removed the second stair. The house is considered the oldest surviving one in its section of Main Street and has kept its original fabric despite long use as rental property.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of Federal architecture and the oldest surviving house in its section of Main Street. It is also tied to Claudius Crozet, the French-born engineer who owned it from 1828. Despite roughly a hundred years as rental property, it kept the original character of its fabric.
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 72001521, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 E. Main St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1814) |
| Architect / builder | Curtis Carter, bricklayer |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and unaltered on the original site; the house was restored in 1940 and used as an architectural firm's offices at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54276, -77.44320 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 72001521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16864782
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.