Search
Close this search box.

143-5083

Bluefield Commercial Historic District

VLR Listing Date

09/19/2024

NRHP Listing Date

NA

NRHP Reference Number

NA

The Bluefield Commercial Historic District in Tazewell County embodies the growth and prosperity experienced in the town of Bluefield—formerly known as Graham—starting in the late 19th century. When incorporated in 1884 as the Town of Graham, Bluefield stood at the gateway to the immense Pocahontas coalfields nearby to the north, and it soon became an important rail connection to points east and west. Although coal operations are no longer the primary economic activity in the area, the historic district continues to serve as the cultural and commercial hub for the surrounding agricultural community and includes shops, professional offices, financial institutions, restaurants, and supply stores. Most of the commercial buildings in the historic district were built between 1895 and circa 1920, and they reflect the architectural styles favored during the Reconstruction and post-World War I eras in Virginia’s history. Some multi-story commercial buildings house mixed uses with stores or business offices on the first floor and residential or another use above. An example of this arrangement is the oldest extant building in the Bluefield Commercial Historic District, Harman Lodge No. 222 A.F. & A.M. (1895) which houses a pharmacy on the first floor and meeting rooms on the upper floors.

Last Updated: September 16, 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

158-5053

Tazewell Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Tazewell (County)

092-5060

Clynchdale

Tazewell (County)

158-5052

Tazewell Depot

Tazewell (County)