Home For Confederate Women
Also known as: Home For Needy Confederate Women; DHL File #127-38
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Why it's listed
Completed in 1932 at 301 North Sheppard Street in Richmond, this two-story limestone building was designed by Merrill Lee as a residence for needy Confederate women. Its form copies the north facade of the White House: an eleven-bay central block with a tetrastyle Ionic portico, one-story hyphens with Doric columns, and two five-bay pavilions. Inside, the public rooms have Doric pilasters, pedimented door surrounds and original lighting fixtures, while the residents' rooms are plain. The Home was chartered by the General Assembly in 1898 and first opened in 1900 in a rented house on Grove Avenue. Fundraising led by Mrs. Andrew Jackson Montague, a state land grant and a $200,000 bequest eventually made the new building possible. Designers of the period associated the White House style with feminine pursuits and with prestige, giving the residents a dignified place to live. The building still serves as a nursing home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an excellent example of Federal Revival architecture in Virginia, with fine exterior and interior detailing based on James Hoban's White House design. It also represents the first institution in the state founded to recognize the loyal women of the Confederacy, chartered by the General Assembly in 1898. The 1932 building has served as a memorial to the wives, widows, daughters and female descendants of Confederate veterans.
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 85002767, listed November 7, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 N. Sheppard St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | November 7, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002767 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Merrill Lee |
| Architectural style | Federal Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a nursing home; condition listed as good and unaltered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55722, -77.47582 (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 85002767.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q140305209
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.