Wharf Area Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Wharf Area Historic District Boundary Increase
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Why it's listed
Tucked against the base of Sears Hill in Staunton, the Wharf Area is a small district of warehouses and commercial buildings along Middlebrook Avenue and part of South Augusta Street. Its brick warehouses, some plain and others richly corbeled, face a railroad passenger station built in 1902 and a freight depot. Landmarks include the Greek Revival American Hotel of about 1854, the Italianate Burns Building of 1874, the Erskine Building of 1904, and the four-story White Star Mills. Some Belgian block and brick paving survives. The district grew after the Virginia Central Railroad reached Staunton in 1852, which cut the cost of goods and opened Tidewater markets to Augusta County farmers. During the Civil War, arsenals and supply warehouses stood near the tracks. Commission merchants, wholesalers, saloons and liveries later gave the area its character. It was listed as a well-preserved example of a turn-of-the-century warehouse and commercial district.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the Wharf Area an unusually picturesque and well-preserved turn-of-the-century warehouse and commercial district. Its brick warehouses, railroad buildings and storefronts reflect Staunton's growth after the railroad arrived in 1852. The area also served as a supply and military center during the Civil War, and little has altered 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 72001533, listed November 9, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Middlebrook Ave. between S. New and S. Lewis Sts., including S. Augusta St. to Johnson St., Staunton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Staunton |
| Listed | November 9, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001533 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Mixed late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century commercial architecture, including Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Bungaloid examples |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked good and unaltered at its original site; the form says there has been little alteration, though the area is less active than in former years. The former American Hotel is used as a warehouse. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.14750, -79.07264 (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 72001533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.