Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 04/21/1993
NRHP Listing Date 06/24/1993
DHR's Virginia Board of Historic Resources easement
NRHP Reference Number 93000569
A gracefully proportioned late Federal-style dwelling, the country house of Kenmore in Spotsylvania County would not be out of place among its contemporaries in nearby downtown Fredericksburg. The polished architectural character is the handiwork of Samuel Alsop, Jr., a prominent local builder. Alsop bought the Kenmore property in 1821 and built the house in 1828-29 as a gift for his son-in-law John M. Anderson and daughter Ann Eliza. Alsop’s dwellings are noted for their careful detailing and Kenmore, with its intricate cornice, Federal mantels, and other ornamental interior trim, is typical of his work. Anderson advertised the property for sale in 1832 calling it a “desirable little farm,” having “a beautiful two- story brick building. . . well situated for a physician or lawyer.” The house served as a Confederate headquarters during the 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Carefully restored in the 1940s, Kenmore stands amid handsome landscaped grounds.
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
Updated: February 3, 2023
