National Register of Historic Places

Bellair

Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia
Listed
October 14, 1992
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
92001372

About this property

Bellair, in Albemarle County, Virginia, is a historic farm. The farm is significant for the architecture of its buildings and for its association with owners important in the political, religious, and economic life of the state. A 250-acre portion of the farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Martin Dawson, owner in 1819, was a co-founder of the Rivanna Navigation Company and eventually became the largest donor to the University of Virginia up to the time of his bequest. The main house on the property is a Federal-style building with dual chimneys dating from 1794 to 1817 period. Architect Marshall S. Wells designed and/or supervised some Colonial Revival style additions in the 1930s and there was further addition of a Palladian window and more in the 1960s. A smokehouse is one additional contributing building on the property.

Location

Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia
37.88846, -78.52166

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONEDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
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
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Southern Albemarle Rural Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Plain Dealing
Industrial
2 mi
Redlands
Industrial
2.3 mi
The Rectory
Industrial
2.3 mi
Christ Church Glendower
Early Republic
2.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Dahlgren's Raid: Albemarle County (1864)
1864Civil War
6.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bellair listed on the National Register?

Bellair was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1992.

What type of historic resource is Bellair?

Bellair is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bellair?

The period of significance for Bellair is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Bellair?

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