Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park
Also known as: Ayers, Rufus A., House; VDHR file no. 101-0002
Why it's listed
Built in 1894-95 on a terrace in the Poplar Hill neighborhood of Big Stone Gap, this Queen Anne house of dark brown quarry-faced sandstone on a limestone basement was first the home of Rufus A. Ayers. A brick carriage house and an original decorative stone wall remain on the grounds. Inside, an L-shaped hall organizes rooms finished in natural red oak, with paneled ceilings, carved door surrounds, a dogleg staircase and several original mantels; two Italian marble mantels were added around 1930. The wraparound veranda and some roof features were lost in the mid-twentieth century. The house is recognized for its architecture and for two owners. Ayers was active in mineral land and railroad dealings in Southwest Virginia. C. Bascom Slemp, who bought the house in 1929, was a congressman and Republican Party organizer who directed Southern patronage during the Harding administration. Virginia acquired the house in 1946, and it opened as a museum in 1948.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion B for the house's ties to Rufus A. Ayers, a businessman and public figure, and to C. Bascom Slemp, a congressman and national Republican political figure who bought it in 1929. It is also significant under Criterion C for its Queen Anne design and sandstone construction. The property opened as the Southwest Virginia Museum in 1948.
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 02001362, listed November 22, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 W. Street N, Big Stone Gap |
|---|---|
| County | Wise County |
| Listed | November 22, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Johnson, Charles Ralph, Sr. |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Industry |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a museum and historical state park owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1946; opened as a museum in 1948. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.86354, -82.78021 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 02001362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7571374
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.