Steamer Company Number 5
Also known as: VDHR No. 127-370
Why it's listed
Built in 1883 at the angled intersection of Marshall Street and Brook Road in Richmond, this two-story brick building served as a fire station until 1968. Its triangular plan fit the lot and gave horse-drawn steam engines room to maneuver toward Broad Street. The walls are stucco scored to look like stone, over a granite foundation, and the Italianate details include a pressed-metal bracketed cornice, window and door hoods, a belt course, and a cast-iron balcony railing between two projecting bays. Uniquely among Richmond firehouses, the upper floor held a police station house with four cells, which remained until 1898. Floor markings still show where horse stalls and a feed room stood, and brass sliding poles and pressed-tin ceilings survive. A rear addition was built later, and a bell tower has been lost. After the fire company moved in 1968, the building served as a community center, was sold in 1976, and now operates as a fire and police museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a late, richly decorated Italianate municipal building that fits the surrounding Jackson Ward neighborhood. It was unique among Richmond firehouses for combining a fire station with a police station house and cell block, and it is described as the best-preserved example. Its interior preserves traces of horse-drawn fire fighting, and its pressed-metal and cast-iron work is highlighted as exceptional.
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 95000027, listed February 8, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 W. Marshall St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | February 8, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883-1944 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a museum of police and fire fighting history; described as in excellent structural condition with relatively few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54772, -77.44291 (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 95000027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7605457
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.