281-5002

Pennington Gap Commercial Historic District

VLR Listing Date

12/14/2023

NRHP Listing Date

05/06/2024

NRHP Reference Number

S100010000

The Pennington Gap Commercial Historic District encompasses the commercial core of the Lee County town of Pennington Gap, which historically served the local population as well as residents of the surrounding rural areas and nearby coal camps. Located at the lowest and flattest area of the Powell River Valley, Pennington Gap provided a natural access point to the rich natural resources in the surrounding region, particularly coal and timber in the northern section of the county. Initially platted by the Pennington Gap Land Improvement Company and chartered as a town in 1892, Pennington Gap developed around the Cumberland Valley Branch of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The approximately nine-acre district includes the active railroad line running through the center of the district, as well as the commercial, social, and entertainment resources constructed during the first three quarters of the 20th century. The one- and two-story masonry buildings comprising the town’s commercial core include small-scale stores and office buildings, a movie theater, a former social hall, two former automobile dealerships, and two former service stations. Architecturally, the buildings that comprise the Pennington Gap Commercial Historic District represent the evolution of the Commercial style throughout the 20th century and reflect the socio-economic character of a small working-class town in rural Appalachia.  

Last Updated: May 10, 2024

Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.

Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark

For additional information Read

Nomination Form

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