McGavock Family Cemetery
Why it's listed
Set on a hill above the McGavock family mansion at Fort Chiswell, this small family cemetery in Wythe County holds about fifteen well-preserved sandstone gravestones in the Germanic tradition. Attributed to the carver Laurence Krone, the stones have rounded shoulders, a three-quarter disc at the top, and different designs on each face, including tulips, ferns, sunflowers, pinwheels and reeded borders. Death dates run from 1812 to the late 1830s, but the matching design suggests the stones were ordered together before 1840. Brothers Joseph Cloyd McGavock and Stephen M. McGavock commissioned them for their father, grandfather and other relatives while building the nearby brick Greek Revival mansion. Later members of the family were buried beneath large marble obelisks, an urn-topped pier and a marble arch, all inside an iron fence. The cemetery was listed for its funerary art, including the only Germanic stones known in a family burying ground, and for its link to a prominent pioneer family. Burials continue there today.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is noted for its collection of 19th-century funerary art, including Germanic-style gravestones attributed to Laurence Krone, the only ones of their type found in a family burying ground. It is also significant for its association with a prominent Southwest Virginia pioneer family, the McGavocks.
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 79003098, listed June 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Fort Chiswell off I-81, Fort Chiswell |
|---|---|
| County | Wythe County |
| Listed | June 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003098 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | ca. 1812-present |
| Architect / builder | Laurence Krone (carver of several stones) |
| Architectural style | Germanic gravestone style (stones attributed to Laurence Krone); late 19th-century funerary monuments |
| Areas of significance | Art, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent; the cemetery remains in use for burials. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.94764, -80.92478 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 79003098.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15252534
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.