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Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia)

Coordinates: 36°50′1″N 76°18′5″W / 36.83361°N 76.30139°W / 36.83361; -76.30139
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Pythian Castle
Pythian Castle
Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia) is located in Virginia
Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia)
Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia) is located in the United States
Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia)
Location610-612 Court St., Portsmouth, Virginia
Coordinates36°50′1″N 76°18′5″W / 36.83361°N 76.30139°W / 36.83361; -76.30139
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1897-1898
ArchitectEdward Overman
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival
NRHP reference No.80004316[1]
VLR No.124-0046
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 30, 1980
Designated VLRJuly 31, 1980[2]

The Pythian Castle is a historic three-story brick-and-stone Knights of Pythias building located at 610-612 Court Street in Portsmouth, Virginia. Built between 1897 and 1898 for the Atlantic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, it was designed by architect Edward Overman in the Romanesque Revival style of architecture. Like many multistory urban fraternal buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its street floor was rented out for retail and office spaces while the upper floors were reserved for lodge use. In 1908 a single-story brick-and-stone Romanesque Revival addition was built to the north of the original building. In 1979 the Pythian Castle was sold by the knights. On October 30, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today the ground floor is a Mexican eatery.[1][3]

It is located in the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff, NRHP Final Nomination Form for Pythian Castle