National Historic Landmark

Holly Knoll

Capahosic, Gloucester County, Virginia
Listed
December 21, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000640

About this property

Holly Knoll, also known as the Robert R. Moton House, is a historic house in rural Gloucester County, Virginia, near Capahosic. It was the retirement home of the influential African-American educator Robert Russa Moton (1867-1940), and is the only known home of his to survive. It now houses the Gloucester Institute, a non-profit training center for African-American community leaders and educators. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1981. Holly Knoll is located on the northeast bank of the York River, between the communities of Capahosic and Allmondsville. The main house is a 2+1⁄2-story brick building with a side gable roof, which is flanked by single-bay single-story wings. A two-story porch and portico extends across much of the facade, supported by smooth Tuscan columns. The interior is organized in a typical Colonial Revival central hall plan, and includes several pieces of furniture that originally belonged to Moton. The property also includes a reproduction of the log home in which Moton grew up. The house was built in 1935 for Robert Russa Moton, and was his home until his death in 1940. Moton was one of the most influential African-American educators of his generation, succeeding Booker T. Washington in the leadership of Hampton University and the Tuskegee Institute, and helping found the National Urban League. The property was then transformed into a conference center, now The Gloucester Institute, dedicated to continuing Moton's educational legacy. It was at the center of strategy discussions amongst African-American intellectuals and activists during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. National Register of Historic Places listings in Gloucester County, Virginia Holly Knoll at Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Location

Capahosic, Gloucester County, Virginia
37.38752, -76.64428

Categories

EDUCATIONSOCIAL HISTORY
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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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Cappahosic House
Colonial
0.8 mi
Werowocomoco Archeological Site
Listed
1.8 mi
Reed, Walter, Birthplace (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)
Industrial
3.1 mi
Reed, Walter, Birthplace
Industrial
3.1 mi
Kenwood
Industrial
5.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Spencer's Ordinary
1781Revolutionary War
6.1 mi
Lee's Mill Fight (April 16, 1862)
1862Civil War
6.2 mi
Battle of Green Spring Jul 6 1781
1781Revolutionary War
6.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Holly Knoll listed on the National Register?

Holly Knoll was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 21, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Holly Knoll?

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

Is Holly Knoll a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Holly Knoll 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 Holly Knoll?

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

Can I research the history near Holly Knoll?

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