Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 09/16/1980
NRHP Listing Date 11/28/1980
NRHP Reference Number 80004173
Occupying a conspicuous location on the edge of Bristol’s commercial district, the Bristol Railroad Station, originally known as the Bristol Union Railway Station, was constructed in 1902. The stone-and-brick structure is one of the last surviving examples of a series of depots built before World War I by Norfolk and Western Railway workers for the company’s rapidly expanding system. The contractor was John Pettyjohn of Lynchburg; George Pettyjohn, his brother, was supervisor of construction. Successfully blending Romanesque and European vernacular idioms, the building, with its authoritative hipped-roof end pavilion, exhibits a degree of architectural sophistication rarely found in the passenger stations of other medium-size Virginia cities. The station stood unoccupied for several years after the termination of passenger service and was converted to a shopping mall in the 1980s. After a successful rehabilitation, the building now serves as a meeting place for local organizations and event center.
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: August 6, 2021
