Egyptian Building
Why it's listed
Completed in 1845 at the corner of East Marshall and College Streets in Richmond, this Egyptian Revival building was the first constructed specifically for the Medical College of Virginia. The school began in 1838 as a medical department of Hampden-Sydney College, housed in the old Union Hotel, and was later chartered by the state. Thomas Stewart, known for Greek Revival work, designed the structure as a temple form with matching facades at each end. Each has a portico with two palm-capital columns, framed by elongated pylons, and the pylon motif repeats around the side windows. A heavy torus cornice and shallow hipped roof crown the building. The exterior was renovated in 1939, and the original interiors have not survived, though the auditorium from that renovation carries Egyptian-style decoration. It is regarded as the oldest medical college building in the South and the finest Egyptian Revival building in the nation.
Significance in brief: It was the first building put up especially for the Medical College of Virginia and is described as the oldest medical college building in the South. The nomination also ranks it as the finest Egyptian Revival building in the nation, a radical departure from Richmond's architectural traditions.
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 69000321, listed April 16, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW corner of E. Marshall and College Sts., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 16, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000321 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Stewart |
| Architectural style | Egyptian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 11, 1971 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Virginia Commonwealth University (Medical College of Virginia); occupied, in fair condition, with an auditorium installed during the 1939 renovation. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53921, -77.42948 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 69000321.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5348385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.