Porto Bello
Why it's listed
Porto Bello is a small brick house on a wooded hill above Queens Creek, about six miles from Williamsburg, on land now part of the Camp Peary Military Reservation. Local tradition links it to Lord Dunmore, Virginia's last royal governor, who bought the plantation in 1773 and used it as a country retreat and hunting lodge. Features of the present house suggest a date near 1800, and the Bright family, owners from 1779 for about fifty years, probably built it. A fire in 1915 left only the walls standing, and the house was rebuilt inside them with a mansard roof replacing the earlier clipped gambrel. In July 1775 Dunmore dined here, then fled by boat as armed patriots approached from Williamsburg. The site is valued as a landmark of Virginia's road to independence. A shallow depression north of the house may mark Dunmore's earlier dwelling, and archaeology could settle the question. The house is now unoccupied.
Significance in brief: Porto Bello was the country retreat and hunting lodge of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's last royal governor. He took refuge here in July 1775 and fled from approaching patriots. The nomination presents the site as an important landmark of Virginia's move toward independence, and notes that archaeology might clarify whether the present house or a nearby depression marks Dunmore's dwelling.
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 73002068, listed April 13, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | On Queens Creek, in Camp Peary Military Reservation, Williamsburg |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | April 13, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002068 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century and 19th Century (checked on the form; no specific dates given) |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied but fairly stable, receiving minimum maintenance from the U.S. military; condition marked fair and altered. The interior was rebuilt after a 1915 fire. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 37.30118, -76.64493 (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 73002068.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7232144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.