Virginia War Memorial Carillon
Also known as: The Carillon; VHLC File No. 127-387
Why it's listed
Rising 200 feet above William Byrd Park in western Richmond, this bell tower was built between 1928 and 1932 as Virginia's only state memorial to those who served in World War I. Cram and Ferguson of Boston designed it in the Georgian Revival style, with a limestone base, brick shaft with limestone quoins, an open bell loft and an octagonal lead-sheathed cupola. The base once held a war museum, and the upper floors hold the clavier and sixty-six bells. A memorial commission formed in 1922 and chose a different design by Marcellus Wright and Paul Cret in a competition. A citizen campaign led by Granville Valentine pushed the legislature to require a carillon in 1926, and Cram and Ferguson were then asked to prepare the design. The tower was dedicated on October 15, 1932. By the time of the nomination the museum had closed, the building was vacant, and a major renovation was underway.
Significance in brief: It is the only structure the Commonwealth of Virginia erected to honor Virginians who served in World War I. Its design and commission were shaped by public opinion and political action, which replaced a competition-winning design with a carillon. It is also one of Cram and Ferguson's most opulent Georgian designs.
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 84000053, listed October 4, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1300 Blanton Ave., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | October 4, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-32 |
| Architect / builder | Cram and Ferguson |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of the form the building was vacant and the carillon unplayed, with a major renovation underway funded by state, municipal and private interests. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.54110, -77.48366 (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 84000053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5004228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.