The William Mackey House illustrates the transition from rude frontier structures to solid, permanent dwellings with architectural pretensions that occurred in the Shenandoah Valley in the late 18th century. Compared with its simple log predecessors, the limestone-built Mackey House is a sophisticated structure with finely crafted detailing, including an elegant classical cornice. Except for a front porch and a rear wing, both added around 1900, the house survives without significant alteration, preserving nearly all of its original interior woodwork. It was built in 1796 for William Mackey, son of the Scottish immigrant and Rockbridge County pioneer, John Mackey. The property, situated in an exceptionally scenic section of the county, remains in the ownership of Mackey’s descendants, and is one of the oldest family holdings in the region.
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
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia