National Historic Landmark

Bacon's Castle

Bacon's Castle, Surry County, Virginia
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000849

About this property

Bacon's Castle, also variously known as "Allen's Brick House" or the "Arthur Allen House" is located in Surry County, Virginia, United States, and is the oldest documented brick dwelling in what is now the United States. Built in 1665, it is noted as an extremely rare example of Carolean architecture in the New World. The house became known as "Bacon's Castle" because it was occupied as a fort or "castle" by the followers of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. However, contrary to popular folklore, Bacon never lived at Bacon's Castle, nor is he even known to have visited it. Today Bacon's Castle is an historic house museum and historic site open for guest visitation. Bacon's Castle is an official Preservation Virginia historic site and operates under its 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit status.

Location

Bacon's Castle, Surry County, Virginia
37.11335, -76.71829

Categories

MILITARYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old Brick Church
Listed
1 mi
Chippokes Plantation
Modern
1.8 mi
Rich Neck Farm
Industrial
2 mi
Fort Huger
Civil War
3.2 mi
Melville
Industrial
4.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bacon's Castle listed on the National Register?

Bacon's Castle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Bacon's Castle?

Bacon's Castle is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Bacon's Castle a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Bacon's Castle has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Bacon's Castle?

The period of significance for Bacon's Castle is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Bacon's Castle?

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