United Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial Building
Also known as: DHR File # 127-0398-0054
Why it's listed
Located at 328 North Boulevard in Richmond, this one-story building clad in white-veined Georgia marble serves as the national headquarters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Architect Louis W. Ballou designed it in the Stripped Classical style, a modernist take on classical forms without rich ornament. It has a three-part plan, a hipped-roof central pavilion, flanking wings, and seventeen-foot bronze entrance doors designed to resemble a mausoleum. Inside are a foyer, a Great Hall, libraries, offices and a dining room. Groundbreaking took place on April 17, 1955, and the building was dedicated on November 11, 1957, after about $346,000 was raised from UDC chapters and divisions. A 1996 two-story addition was built at the rear. It was listed for its architecture and for its place in social history. The nomination describes it as the only building in the country built as a memorial to the women of the Confederacy, largely through women's contributions, and as the organization's national symbol.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion C as a local example of Stripped Classical architecture, chosen to contrast with the Classical Revival buildings beside it. It is also argued under Criterion A in Social History as the only building in the United States built as a memorial to the women of the Confederacy, largely through women's fundraising. It is the principal national symbol of the organization.
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 08000341, listed April 24, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 328 North Blvd., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 24, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000341 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1955-1957 |
| Architect / builder | Louis W. Ballou, Architect |
| Architectural style | Stripped Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as the UDC national headquarters, with an auditorium, offices and libraries; a two-story rear addition was made in 1996. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55725, -77.47383 (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 08000341.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16902346
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.