National Register of Historic Places

Hume School

Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia
Listed
June 17, 1979
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
79003027

About this property

The Hume School is an 1891 former school building in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the oldest school building in Arlington County. It has been the home of the Arlington Historical Society since 1960. The Queen Anne-style building was designed by B. Stanley Simmons, a Washington, D.C. architect. Its design reflects the changing thoughts around the importance of education and larger schools. Frank Hume, a Confederate veteran of the Civil War and local civic leader, sold his property to the county for $250 and donated some additional land for the playground. It was an active public school from 1891 until it closed in 1958. A community campaign ended with the building being deeded to the Arlington Historical Society in 1960. They later purchased additional property behind the building to ensure views toward Washington and prevent development. The National Park Service listed the building on the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1979. The Arlington County Board designated the building to be a local historic district on October 3, 1978. The Hume School is currently operated as the Arlington Historical Museum by the Arlington Historical Society. It has over 4000 artifacts representing all of the history of Arlington County. The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Arlington Historical Society was founded in September 1956. It moved into the Hume school in 1960 and began an extensive restoration before opening the building as a museum in the early 1960s. The AHS continues as a non-profit organization supporting research, preservation, and education efforts related to the local history of Arlington County, Virginia. The Ball-Sellers House was donated to the Arlington Historical Society in 1975 for preservation and interpretation. On Feb 15th, 2011, Arlington County announced that the 2011-2012 vehicle decal sticker would feature a photo of the Hume School taken by Wakefield High School junior Maya Giacobbe as part of a contest. Hume School, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington, Arlington County, VA at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)

Location

1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd.
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia
38.85871, -77.06769

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
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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
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Battles

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Questions about this property

When was Hume School listed on the National Register?

Hume School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Hume School?

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

What is the period of significance for Hume School?

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

Can I research the history near Hume School?

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