National Register of Historic Places

National Theater

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
Listed
April 1, 2003
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
03000188

About this property

The National, formerly the National Theater and then Towne Theater, is a historic theater and performance venue located in Richmond, Virginia, US. Part of a section of Broad Street once known as Theatre Row, it is the only one of the three original auditoriums still standing. Built in 1923, the theater was constructed with an adaptable stage that allowed it to show early motion pictures as well as live performances. After a 1968 conversion to a dedicated cinema house it was renamed the Towne Theater, in which capacity it operated until closing in 1983. After an extensive renovation, the theater reopened in 2008 as The National, serving as a live music and performing arts venue.

Location

700-710 E. Broad St.
Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
37.54196, -77.43541

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about National Theater

This page lists National Theater. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
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
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your National Theater report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Ninth Street Office Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Peter's Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Blues Armory
Industrial
0.1 mi
Marshall, John, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Loews Theatre
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Dahlgren Raid (Richmond Raid)
1864Civil War
0.1 mi
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid
1864Civil War
0.1 mi
Battle of Bloody Run
1656Colonial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was National Theater listed on the National Register?

National Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 2003.

What type of historic resource is National Theater?

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

What is the period of significance for National Theater?

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

Can I research the history near National Theater?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near National Theater will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Richmond County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Richmond County.

Explore RichmondCounty ›

More historic places in Virginia

Browse all historic places in Virginia.

View Virginiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Virginia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Virginiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near National Theater will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report