Ferry Plantation House
Also known as: Old Donation Farm; Ferry Farm; Walke; William House; Dhr#134-0011
Why it's listed
Ferry Plantation House is a brick dwelling on the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach, built around 1830 for Captain Charles McIntosh by his father, George McIntosh. It was constructed with good bricks salvaged from the earlier Walke manor house, which burned around 1828. A kitchen wing from about 1780 was joined to the new building, and a frame wing was added around 1850. The land has a long history, including a ferry operated from the site as early as 1642 and a county courthouse tract deeded in 1730. Plumbing and electricity arrived in the 1930s, and the porches were rebuilt in the 1950s. After standing empty from 1987 to 1996, the house was stabilized and restored, and it now serves as a museum. The nomination highlights it as the best-preserved brick Federal-style home in the city, retaining much original woodwork, shutters and roof framing, though modern houses now surround the small remaining property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C as a rare, well-preserved example of late Federal architecture in the city of Virginia Beach. It keeps most of its original fabric despite losing nearly all of its historic acreage. It sits on a site tied to a ferry operation dating to 1642 and to the prominent Walke family.
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 04001545, listed January 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4136 Cheswick Ln., Virginia Beach (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Virginia Beach |
| Listed | January 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001545 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1780-1954 |
| Architect / builder | George McIntosh |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a museum; the house sat vacant from 1987 to 1996 before restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 36.86396, -76.11789 (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 04001545.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5445496
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.