West Broad Street Commercial Historic District
Also known as: VDHR File No. 127-5807
Why it's listed
This stretch of West Broad Street in central Richmond holds 22 commercial buildings from about 1900 to the late 1930s, 20 of which contribute to the district. Many were built for the early automobile trade as showrooms, service garages and supply shops. Examples include the four-story Forbes Motor Car Company building of 1919 to 1921, designed by Hallet and Pratt, and the Harper Overland Company building of about 1921. As the car business grew, dealers chose fashionable Art Deco and revival designs to show off their products. The district also includes Engine Company No. 10, a Romanesque Revival firehouse of the early 1900s, and the 1937 Saunders Station Post Office in a Stripped Classical style. The large Coliseum, later the Duplex Envelope Company building, is separately listed. Although many ground-floor storefronts were altered during the twentieth century, the upper floors largely keep their original windows, cornices and finishes. The district reflects Broad Street's westward growth as a commercial corridor.
Significance in brief: The district is significant locally for its link to the arrival of the automobile industry in Richmond, shown in showrooms, garages and supply shops built in fashionable revival and Art Deco styles. It also reflects the westward commercial growth of Broad Street after the Civil War, aided by the railroad freight depot and streetcar service. Two government buildings, a firehouse and a post office, add to its character.
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 00001667, listed January 16, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1300-1600 West Broad St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | January 16, 2001 |
| Reference number | 00001667 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Hallet and Pratt (Forbes Motor Car Company Building) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival; Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival; Italian Renaissance Revival; Commercial; Moderne; Art Deco |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some buildings have altered storefronts; several were undergoing or planned for renovation at the time of the form. Current uses include shops, offices, a theater, a school, a post office, and some vacant space. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55367, -77.45542 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 00001667.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.