Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 04/17/1973
NRHP Listing Date 05/14/1973
NRHP Reference Number 73002218
One of the Commonwealth’s most beautiful public buildings, the Petersburg Courthouse is a testament to the talents of its architect, Calvin Pollard of New York. Completed in 1840, this masterpiece of the Greek Revival employs the Tower of the Winds order in both its tall portico and its elaborate octagonal cupola. The cupola, topped by a clock which is surmounted by a statue of Justice, was used as a sighting mark by Union artillery during the Civil War siege of the city. The courthouse’s exterior survives largely unchanged; the interior has undergone considerable remodeling but preserves an outstanding coffered domed ceiling in the courtroom. The building is located in the Petersburg Courthouse Historic District and still houses the city’s courts; it remains a dominant architectural element of Petersburg’s skyline.
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: November 4, 2021
