Carter, A. P. and Sara, House
Also known as: Millard House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This one-and-one-half story wood-frame bungalow in Scott County, Virginia, near Maces Spring, was the home of A. P. and Sara Carter, original members of the Carter Family musical group. The couple moved here in 1927, at the start of their recording career. Around 1928 A. P., a carpenter by trade, enlarged the original four-room dwelling to house his family. He added second-floor bedrooms lit by a front dormer, remodeled the porch, and built a dining room wing on the east end. He also ran a sawmill nearby and later operated a small country store west of the house. A. P. lived here until his death in 1960. His daughter Gladys and her husband later added a garage/den wing, a basement, a bathroom and aluminum siding. Beyond its musical associations, the house reflects the vernacular domestic forms of rural Scott County in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: It was the home of A. P. and Sara Carter, original members of the Carter Family, who moved there in 1927 at the start of their recording career. A. P. lived there until his death in 1960. It also represents early twentieth century vernacular architecture in rural Virginia.
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 85001410, listed June 12, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 614, Maces Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Scott County |
| Listed | June 12, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001410 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Remodeled by A. P. Carter |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is dwelling; condition is described as very good, and the house has been altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.66875, -82.41037 (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 85001410.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15177525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.