Though Green Falls is obviously a dwelling of great age, its construction date is uncertain. Claims have been made that the house was built in 1710 for Richard Johnston. Architectural evidence, however, points to a date in the second or third quarter of the 18th century. The Caroline County house thus could have been the building that served as Johnston’s Tavern, for which Thomas Johnston was issued a tavern license in 1747. The property was acquired in 1800 by Robert Wright, who added the south wing around 1808. The house is distinguished by its tall proportions and side-passage plan. The dominant features are the massive brick chimneys. Some early trim survives on the interior, but most dates from the mid-19th century. On the grounds is an 18th-century smokehouse. Seen across the fields, Green Falls presents a memorable picture of Tidewater’s early cultural landscape.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia