Kiskiack
Also known as: Lee House
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Why it's listed
Kiskiack, also known as the Lee House, is a small brick farmhouse in York County, Virginia, now within the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. Built in the late seventeenth century by an unknown hand, it is one and a half stories tall with a gable roof pitched at fifty-five degrees, among the steepest of its period in Virginia. The walls are laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, and two T-shaped end chimney stacks with molded brick caps are its most impressive features. The land was first patented in 1641 by Henry Lee, and the Lee family kept it until the federal government acquired it in 1918. A fire in 1915 destroyed everything except the masonry, and later repairs and porches were added and partly removed. The interior is badly decayed, though the structure is being preserved. The house is listed as a rare surviving example of an early Virginia country house and for the craftsmanship of its design and construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Kiskiack as a rare survival of a typical early Virginia country house. The quality of its design and construction reflects the high standard of craftsmanship reached in Virginia's first century of settlement. Its fine Flemish bond brickwork, steep roof and T-shaped chimney stacks are highlighted, as is its link to the Lee family, who held the land from 1641 until 1918.
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 69000287, listed November 12, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of jct. of VA 238 and 168, Lackay |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | November 12, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000287 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th Century |
| Architectural style | Late-seventeenth-century small Virginia brick farmhouse with central passage plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally preserved but the interior is badly decayed; the form lists condition as fair and use as vacant, on Naval Weapons Station land off-limits to the public. |
| Coordinates | 37.24113, -76.56383 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 69000287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18739437
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.