Monumental Church, 1224 East Broad Street, Richmond, Independent City, Virginia

Significance: Monumental Church (1812-14) was designed by architect Robert Mills to commemorate the deaths of seventy-two persons, including Virginia Governor George William Smith, who perished in an 1811 fire that destroyed a theater on the site. Conceived as both an active church and commemorative monument, its dual role is expressed by a stone memorial portico and adjoining octagonal church. As an early example of Greek Revival styling, Monumental Church is derived from the work and ideas of numerous renowned designers, especially Benjamin H. Latrobe. Mills, however, an American-trained architect who explored progressive concepts such as fireproof-construction techniques, is credited with synthesizing contemporary architectural trends into buildings that have become identified with the Federal era. Although Monumental Church was altered and enlarged during the late nineteenth century, subsequent rehabilitations have restored its original appearance.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-353

Survey number: HABS VA-1241

Building/structure dates: ca. 1812 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1845 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1870 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1879 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1894 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1899 Subsequent Work

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 69000326

churches monuments and memorials monumental monumental church broad east broad street richmond virginia john allan historic american buildings survey john marshal robert mills virginia b price schwan richard upjohn photo architecture building church buildings governors building plans design library of congress national register of historic places

1933 - 1970

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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