Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/14/2000
NRHP Listing Date 11/22/2000
DHR's Virginia Board of Historic Resources easement
NRHP Reference Number 00001434
Beacon Theatre, originally known as the “Broadway Theatre,” opened in 1928. The architects of this eclectic building were Osbert L. Edwards of Hopewell and Fred Bishop of Richmond. In their design they combined both Colonial Revival and Art Deco motifs. In addition to the theater and its related spaces, the building contained commercial and apartment spaces and a meeting hall for the Knights of Pythias. Both live performances and motion pictures were presented. It was originally equipped with a $10,000 organ, had seating for a six-piece orchestra, and could accommodate 981 people in its balcony and main floor. The theater closed in 1981, however, through civic commitment leveraged by the the Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program the Beacon reopened in 2014 as a vibrant performance venue, conference center, and special occasion facility. It is an anchor of the Downtown Hopewell Historic District, which is also listed in the registers.
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 1, 2021
