Steephill
Why it's listed
Steephill is a brick house on a steep, terraced hill beside Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton, Virginia. Col. John Lewis Peyton, author of the History of Augusta County, Virginia, built it in 1877-78 as a Gothic house on about 90 acres. In 1926-27 his son commissioned local architect Sam Collins of T. J. Collins & Son to remodel it in the Georgian Revival style. Collins added a wing to each side, created a wide entrance hall, and gave the facade and first floor classical detailing. The rear and upper floors stayed Victorian in character, so the house shows its development in layers. Collins also designed the terraced front grounds and a boxwood maze, both still largely unaltered. Remodeling Victorian homes in revival styles was common in Staunton, and the house is regarded as an outstanding local example. The property now covers a little over three acres, and the Peyton family owned it until 1964.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance in architecture, landscape architecture and historiography. The house is an outstanding local example of Georgian Revival work by Sam Collins of T. J. Collins & Son, and its terraced grounds and boxwood maze were designed by Collins. It was also the home of Col. John Lewis Peyton, a local historian best known for his History of Augusta County, 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 84003599, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 Park Blvd., Staunton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Staunton |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003599 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1877-78; remodeled 1926-27 (areas checked: 1800-1899 and 1900-) |
| Architect / builder | Sam Collins (1926-27 remodeling); built 1877-78 by Col. John Lewis Peyton |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (originally Gothic) |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered; the original site has been reduced from 90 acres to about 3.6 acres. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 38.15626, -79.08734 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 84003599.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.