Killgore Fort House
Why it's listed
Built around 1785-90 by Robert Killgore, this two-story fort house near Nickelsville in Scott County, Virginia, shows how frontier settlers defended themselves in the last decades of the eighteenth century. Its walls are hewn rectangular timbers, V-notched at the corners, set on a limestone foundation, with a large stone chimney on the northeast gable end. Originally a heavy timber partition divided each floor into two rooms, strengthening the building and allowing several last stands. The small second-floor openings reflect its defensive purpose. Killgore, a farmer and prominent Baptist minister, lived here until his death in 1854, and the 1850 census shows a fairly prosperous farm. The house was the last in a chain of frontier forts reaching from Castlewood to Cumberland Gap. It is regarded as perhaps the oldest building in the county. At listing, the chimney's failing mortar was pushing the structure out of line, and local groups were planning restoration and a wayside park.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a transitional frontier structure, from the period when strongly built, fortified houses replaced blockhouses and stockaded forts. It was the last of a chain of frontier forts stretching from Castlewood to Cumberland Gap. It is described as perhaps the oldest building in the county and one of the few surviving structures in southwestern Virginia that reflect the early westward movement into Kentucky and Tennessee.
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 72001415, listed May 19, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Nickelsville off VA 71, Nickelsville |
|---|---|
| County | Scott County |
| Listed | May 19, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001415 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Robert Killgore |
| Architectural style | Frontier fort house of hewn V-notched timber construction |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in advanced structural deterioration because the mortar in the stone chimney has broken down and the chimney leans downhill. Most timbers are in good condition, and a local restoration effort is under way. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 36.73472, -82.43420 (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.
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 72001415.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6406867
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.