Museum District, Richmond, Virginia

The Museum District, alternately known as West of the Boulevard,[3] is a neighborhood in the city of Richmond, Virginia. It is anchored by the contiguous six-block tract of museums along the west side of Boulevard, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, hence the name.

West of Boulevard Historic District
Museum District, Richmond, Virginia is located in Virginia
Museum District, Richmond, Virginia
Museum District, Richmond, Virginia is located in the United States
Museum District, Richmond, Virginia
LocationRoughly bounded by Colonial Ave., W. Grace St., Cutshaw Ave., Thompson St., and Ellwood Ave., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates37°33′35″N 77°28′46″W / 37.55972°N 77.47944°W / 37.55972; -77.47944
Area249 acres (101 ha)
ArchitectMultiple
Architectural styleMultiple
NRHP reference No.94000153 [1]
VLR No.127-0742
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 07, 1994
Designated VLRDecember 8, 1993[2]

It is roughly bounded by the Boulevard (and the Fan District) on the east, I-195 on the west, Monument Avenue and Broad Street on the north, and Carytown on the south. Much of that is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parts of the area had been in active use as farmland into the late 19th century, and though part was notably used as a Civil War veteran's home at that time, it was primarily developed between 1895 and 1940.[4] It is largely populated with townhouses in styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[4] Though much of the district is residential, there are several schools, religious facilities, and other institutional uses throughout, as well as local restaurants and stores, especially in the "Devil's Triangle" area[4] Carytown generally serves as the shopping district for the area, and in fact the distinction between Carytown and the Museum District is fairly blurry.[5]

The Devil's Triangle is the largest business district in the neighborhood, outside of the streets adjoining Carytown, but there are many small corner stores and restaurants throughout the neighborhood.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "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 March 19, 2013.
  3. ^ This is the name used in the current Master Plan for the city ("Near West Planning District" (PDF). City Master Plan. City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review. Retrieved May 24, 2011.) The National Register uses "West of Boulevard" (sans definite article), while the area neighborhood association uses the "Museum District" as its primary name, though referring to "West of the Boulevard" as well ("Main Website". Museum District Association. Retrieved May 24, 2011.)
  4. ^ a b c "West of Boulevard National Register Nomination" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "I Love the Museum District". November 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "The Devil's Triangle".
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