National Register of Historic Places

Clifton

Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia
Listed
November 2, 1989
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89001922

About this property

Clifton is a historic home located near Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia. It was built about 1800, and is a large, rambling two-story, five-bay, wood frame dwelling. The house has later 19th- and 20th-century Colonial Revival-style additions and alterations. The front facade features a double level porch, added about 1930, and the interior has Federal details. Also on the property are the contributing brick office (c. 1833–1845); the ruins of an early 19th-century spring house; the shaft of a 19th-century stone-lined ice house; an early 20th-century chicken coop and an altered 1920s brick garage. Clifton was built by Congressman and Virginia Governor Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. (1768–1828), who was married to Martha Jefferson, the daughter of President Thomas Jefferson. It was part of the never-to-be port of North Milton, a sister port to the now extinct village of Milton directly across the Rivanna River. With his partners, Randolph planned North Milton to support commercial and agricultural development, situated along the Milton Canal of the Rivanna River. The Clifton house first began as a warehouse and Randolph had a separate office building, which is still on the Clifton grounds. The house was expanded later and during the 19th century it had a one-story veranda, which has been replaced by the portico. Situated on 100 acres, it has operated as an inn since 1983. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Location

Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia
38.00703, -78.39719

Categories

COMMERCEPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
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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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
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
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Edgehill
Industrial
0.8 mi
La Fourche
Industrial
1.3 mi
Monticello
Industrial
1.9 mi
East Belmont
Listed
2.5 mi
Limestone
Early Republic
2.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Clifton listed on the National Register?

Clifton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 1989.

What type of historic resource is Clifton?

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

What is the period of significance for Clifton?

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

Can I research the history near Clifton?

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