Highland Park Public School
Also known as: DHR File No. 127-355
Why it's listed
Highland Park Public School, at 2928 Second Avenue in Richmond, is a two-story brick and stucco building on a raised basement, covered by hipped roofs of terra cotta tile. Built in 1909 to serve the Henrico County suburb of Highland Park, it was enlarged in 1913 with a double-height auditorium and again in 1921 and 1929 with classroom wings. Architect Charles M. Robinson designed every phase in the Mediterranean Revival style, repeating the tan brick, stucco basement and tile roofs so the whole reads as one design. Robinson served as Richmond School Board architect from 1909 to 1930 and designed twenty school buildings and additions for the city. The school became part of Richmond when Highland Park was annexed in 1914, then served as a northern neighborhood school until the 1970s. Enrollment reached 881 pupils in 1930-31. It was listed for its architecture and for its role in Richmond's public education history. Its current use is multiple dwelling.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school represents about sixty years of the evolution of Richmond's public education system, from a Henrico County community school to a city neighborhood school. It is also an example of the work of Charles M. Robinson, Richmond School Board architect from 1909 to 1930. The additions kept the original Mediterranean Revival design, giving the building a cohesive appearance.
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 91001683, listed October 22, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2928 Second Ave., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | October 22, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001683 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1929 |
| Architect / builder | architect: Robinson, Charles M.; builder: Jno. Amrhein & Bros. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th century revivals: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival (described in the text as Mediterranean Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building ceased to function as a school in the 1970s and its current function is listed as multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.56966, -77.41883 (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.
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 91001683.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5759020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.