National Historic Landmark

Poplar Forest

Lynchburg, Bedford County, Virginia
Listed
November 11, 1969
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
69000223

About this property

Poplar Forest is a plantation and retreat home in Forest, Virginia, United States, that belonged to Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third U.S. president. Jefferson inherited the property in 1773 and began designing and working on his retreat home in 1806. While Jefferson is the most famous individual associated with the property, it had several owners before being purchased for restoration, preservation, and exhibition in 1984. Poplar Forest was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and is now operated as a historic house museum by the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest. The corporation is also responsible for the ongoing archaeological study and restoration work at the property. The Corporation celebrated the completed restoration of Jefferson's villa retreat in April 2023.

Location

Lynchburg, Bedford County, Virginia
37.34995, -79.27184

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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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Everything a full report reveals about Poplar Forest

This page lists Poplar Forest. 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.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rothsay
Industrial
1.4 mi
Woodbourne
Industrial
1.6 mi
Grove, The
Industrial
2.7 mi
Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church
Industrial
2.8 mi
Federal Hill
Early Republic
2.8 mi

Nearby Battles

Lynchburg – Fort Early Assault
1864Civil War
7.5 mi
Lynchburg — Defense Against Hunter (June 17–18 1864)
1864Civil War
8.3 mi
Lynchburg — Hunter's Failed Assault (June 17-18, 1864)
1864Civil War
8.4 mi
Battle of Lynchburg
1864Civil War
8.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Poplar Forest listed on the National Register?

Poplar Forest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1969.

What type of historic resource is Poplar Forest?

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

Is Poplar Forest a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Poplar Forest 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 Poplar Forest?

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

Can I research the history near Poplar Forest?

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 Poplar Forest will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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