124-5063

Downtown Portsmouth Historic District

VLR Listing Date

09/11/2002

NRHP Listing Date

01/16/2004

NRHP Reference Number

03001485

The Downtown Portsmouth Historic District, also known as the High Street Corridor, is comprised of buildings primarily dating to the years around the turn of the 20th century, and include such architectural styles as Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and Romanesque Revival, as exemplified by Pythian Castle. Located within the district’s boundaries are churches of almost every major denomination in the city including St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dominating the district are two-story brick commercial buildings with a first-floor, three-bay storefront consisting of two fixed glass display windows and a central, recessed entrance. The historic Norfolk County Courthouse is also located in the district. The High Street corridor bloomed as a commercial district out of necessity during the post-Reconstruction era as the city’s population increased rapidly. The commercial nature of the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District remains vibrant to this day.

Last Updated: June 2, 2023

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

124-0026

Crawford House Hotel

"Virginia's Lost" Delisted Landmarks

124-0052

Abigarlos

Portsmouth (Ind. City)

124-5130

Portsmouth Community Library

Portsmouth (Ind. City)