Beacon Theatre, originally known as the “Broadway Theatre,” opened in 1928. The architects of this eclectic building were Osbert L. Edwards of Hopewell and Fred Bishop of Richmond. In their design they combined both Colonial Revival and Art Deco motifs. In addition to the theater and its related spaces, the building contained commercial and apartment spaces and a meeting hall for the Knights of Pythias. Both live performances and motion pictures were presented. It was originally equipped with a $10,000 organ, had seating for a six-piece orchestra, and could accommodate 981 people in its balcony and main floor. The theater closed in 1981, however, through civic commitment leveraged by the the Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program the Beacon reopened in 2014 as a vibrant performance venue, conference center, and special occasion facility. The Beacon Theatre is an anchor of the Downtown Hopewell Historic District, which is also listed in the registers.