Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 10/20/1993
NRHP Listing Date 07/22/1994
NRHP Reference Number 94000683
Fredericksburg’s former town hall and connecting square is a rare Federal-period public complex. Completed in 1816, the town hall is a plain, almost domestic appearing building. The rear elevation (pictured above), set on a stone arcade, dominates the market square, a sloping space on the interior of the block. The complex follows the precedent of English town halls which traditionally had meeting spaces above an arcaded market area. Here, farmers, craftsmen and other vendors sold their goods in the formerly open arcades of the lower level. Political leaders and social elite held public meetings, assemblies, and dances above. Businessmen rented the wings for office space. Although the market ceased with the development of produce stores, the town hall continued to house the local government until 1982. In 1988 the building was converted to a local history museum in Fredericksburg.
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: July 29, 2022
