Its name derived from the Shackelford family, Shack Mountain is regarded as the most distinctive architectural work of Sidney Fiske Kimball (1881-1955), the leading figure of America’s first generation of architectural historians. This gem-like Jeffersonian-style pavilion was built in 1935-36 as Kimball’s retirement home. Kimball is credited with nurturing a scholarly interest in American buildings and promoting Thomas Jefferson as a major figure in the nation’s architectural development. He was also the founder of the University of Virginia School of Architecture and a pioneer in the restoration of historic landmarks, taking an active role in Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, Stratford, Gunston Hall, and numerous National Park Service properties. As an art historian he gained fame as director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Kimball wanted Shack Mountain, with its Jeffersonian format, to demonstrate the viability of a regional architectural tradition.