Designed in 1901 by Lynchburg architect John Minor Botts Lewis for Thomas and Mary Fauntleroy, Avoca is the principal landmark of the Campbell County village of Altavista. Avoca is one of the state’s foremost expressions of the Queen Anne style, a style distinguished by complex rooflines, a variety of surface treatments and window types, and numerous porches and projections. Its interior has no less visual interest than the exterior. The hall is dominated by a grand staircase with a rounded balcony projecting from a landing. Avoca is also the site of an earlier dwelling, Green Level, the home of Revolutionary War patriot Col. Charles Lynch. It was on Lynch’s land that area Tories were flogged by locals for allegiance to the British crown, giving rise to the term Lynch Law. Avoca now houses a museum and historical society. On the grounds are several outbuildings predating the present house.
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