History & Evolution of Virginia Historic Preservation

The preservation of Virginia's historic buildings has evolved from informal caretaking of ancestral homes to a sophisticated professional field supported by government programs, tax incentives, and nonprofit organizations. Understanding this history helps contemporary restoration professionals and homeowners appreciate the principles that guide their work and the legacy they continue.

Early Preservation (1607-1880s)

In Virginia's early centuries, the care of significant buildings fell to private owners who maintained structures out of family pride, practical necessity, or social obligation. Government played little role in preservation, and there were no professional standards or methodologies.

Family Preservation

Many of Virginia's great plantation houses survived through continuous family ownership. Properties like Shirley Plantation (1638) and Berkeley Plantation (1726) represent this tradition of stewardship across eleven and seven generations respectively. These families maintained buildings through a combination of necessary repairs and respect for ancestral heritage.

Early Landmarks

Certain sites gained recognition for their association with significant historical events. George Washington's Birthplace and Mount Vernon attracted visitors interested in Revolutionary history, creating early pressure for preservation. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, formed in 1853, became the nation's first statewide historic preservation organization and a model for later preservation efforts.

The Age of Romantic Preservation (1880s-1920s)

The late 19th century saw the emergence of organized preservation efforts driven by romantic nostalgia for the colonial and Revolutionary past. This period established many of the organizations and approaches that continue today.

Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities

Founded in 1889, Preservation Virginia (then the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) became the nation's first state-wide historic preservation organization. Its early efforts focused on acquiring and protecting threatened landmarks, including Jamestown Island (acquired in 1893) and numerous historic churches.

Colonial Revival Architecture

The popular enthusiasm for colonial-era design led to both authentic restoration and the construction of new buildings in historic styles. This Colonial Revival movement, reaching its peak between 1890 and 1950, helped create the aesthetic vocabulary that still influences restoration decisions today.

The Modern Preservation Movement (1926-1966)

The early 20th century witnessed the professionalization of historic preservation, with Virginia playing a central role in developing the techniques and standards that define the field.

Colonial Williamsburg

The restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, launched in 1926 with funding from John D. Rockefeller Jr., transformed the field of historic preservation. Under the direction of architects and historians including William Perry and A. Lawrence Kocher, the project developed techniques for authentic restoration that became international standards. The archaeological research, documentary investigation, and craftsmanship employed at Williamsburg established preservation as a serious scholarly and professional endeavor.

Historic American Buildings Survey

Created in 1933 as a New Deal employment program, the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documented thousands of historic structures across the nation, including hundreds in Virginia. HABS established rigorous documentation standards and created an invaluable archive of measured drawings, photographs, and written histories.

Virginia's State Program

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources traces its origins to the State Library's archives division in the 1910s and became a separate agency in 1960. The Department established the Virginia Landmarks Register and began systematic survey of historic resources throughout the Commonwealth.

The National Preservation Framework (1966-Present)

The passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966 created the comprehensive framework for historic preservation that governs work today. This legislation and subsequent amendments established institutions, standards, and incentives that shape Virginia restoration projects.

The National Historic Preservation Act

Signed into law on October 15, 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) established the National Register of Historic Places, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and State Historic Preservation Offices. The Act created the Section 106 review process requiring federal agencies to consider effects on historic properties, fundamentally changing how government projects interact with historic resources.

Tax Incentives and Rehabilitation

The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 created the first significant federal tax incentives for historic rehabilitation, establishing the 25% credit that evolved into today's 20% Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive. Virginia's state credit program, established in 1997, has become one of the most successful state-level preservation incentives in the nation.

Contemporary Challenges

Today's preservation movement faces new challenges including climate change adaptation, equity in preservation, and the preservation of modern-era resources. Organizations like Preservation Virginia continue to advocate for policies and practices that ensure Virginia's historic buildings remain viable and valued components of the Commonwealth's communities.