Grace Hospital
Also known as: VDHR File # 127-5459
Why it's listed
Grace Hospital, at the corner of West Grace and Monroe Streets in Richmond, began as a three-story Colonial Revival building designed by Charles M. Robinson and completed in 1911. Its Flemish bond brick walls, granite basement, paired Ionic columns and modillioned cornice gave it a residential character that suited the surrounding neighborhood. A five-story wing by Henry E. Baskervill followed in 1930, and a plain modern wing by Samuel N. Mayo was added in 1964, roughly tripling the size of the building. The hospital was among a network of small private hospitals that grew up in Richmond in the early twentieth century, and it was the city's first fireproof hospital. It later housed a nursing school and, from 1981, an adult retirement home. The building has been vacant since 1999, and new owners plan to convert it to apartments. It was recognized for its role in local health care history and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A in health and medicine as a symbol of the growth of small, privately run hospitals in early twentieth-century Richmond, and as the city's first fireproof hospital. It also qualifies under Criterion C as a strong example of Colonial Revival architecture popular in Richmond between 1890 and 1930. It is tied to two prominent Richmond architects, Charles M. Robinson and Henry E. Baskervill.
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 04000856, listed August 11, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 West Grace St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 11, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000856 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Morrison Robinson, architect (1911 campaign); Henry E. Baskervill, architect (1930 campaign); Samuel N. Mayo, AIA (1964 campaign) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival; Modern Movement: Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1999; purchased in February 2004 by developers who plan to convert it into apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54881, -77.44637 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 04000856.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591217
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.