The wealth and influence of the Garnetts is shown by Elmwood, one of Virginia’s most ambitious colonial mansions. Muscoe Garnett, whose family had been prominent in Essex County affairs since the 17th century, had the house built ca. 1774. The austere formality of the 100-foot façade contrasts with the highly ornamented interior woodwork, some of the finest of the late colonial period. The drawing room is especially grand, having scrolled pediments and Ionic pilasters decorating the doorways and chimneypiece based on designs published by Abraham Swan. The house was partially remodeled in the Italianate style in 1852 by Muscoe R. H. Garnett, a Confederate statesman. After standing empty for many years, Elmwood was restored in the 1950s by a descendant of the builder. Complementing the house is a large formal garden and park. A collection of rare early farm buildings stands on the lowlands. The Elmwood property contributes to the Occupacia-Rappahannock Rural Historic District.
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