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2026 LIST OF VIRGINIA’S MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES ANNOUNCED

May 18, 2026

For immediate release

For more information, contact: Will Glasco, wglasco@preservationvirginia.org, (804) 338-1357

2026 LIST OF VIRGINIA’S MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES ANNOUNCED
9 locations facing substantial threats were named to this year’s list.

RICHMOND, Va. (May 19, 2026) – Each May — National Historic Preservation Month — Preservation Virginia publishes a list of historic places across the Commonwealth facing imminent or sustained threats. The list, which has raised awareness for over 200 sites in Virginia, encourages individuals, organizations and local governments to advocate for their preservation and find solutions that will save these unique locations for their local communities and for future generations. The program has a proven track record of success. Only 10% of the sites listed since the program began have been lost to demolition or neglect.

This year’s list reflects the increasing pressure of new development on historic communities and the ongoing impacts of the data center industry. “Balancing growth with the preservation and conservation of cultural resources is particularly challenging in 2026,” said Will Glasco, Preservation Virginia CEO. “During the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we need to work together to preserve the places that share the many facets of the American story while allowing for responsible growth.”

In no particular order, Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026 are:

  • Old Bennett School Complex, Prince William County

    • Constructed in 1909, Old Bennett was the first school built in response to a statewide education funding initiative. During construction, burials of Civil War soldiers were discovered on the site. Now part of the Prince William County Judicial Campus, plans for new facilities indicate the school will be demolished. Incorporating Old Bennett School into the updated judicial campus is critical to saving this important cultural resource in Old Town Manassas.

    • For more information please contact: Colin Turner, clntrnr@gmail.com, (571) 353-8635

  • Wiehle Town Hall, Reston

    • Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this building was originally the centerpiece of German immigrant and businessman C.A. Max Wiehle’s “utopian community.” His idea of a self-sufficient community faded with his death in 1901, and eventually the A. Smith Bowman distillery used the building for its operations. Last year, it was listed for sale. Significant development pressures in this region of Virginia make the future of this building uncertain.

    • For more information please contact: Ken Plum, kenplum@aol.com, (703) 975-1782

  • Historic Cave Spring Community, City of Roanoke

    • The village of Cave Spring was a thriving crossroads community from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries in southwest Roanoke County. Cave Spring had humble beginnings as a resting spot due to the spring, attracting Native Americans and later farmers going to market in Big Lick (Roanoke City). Its broader community faces increasing development pressures, and balancing thoughtful growth and preservation are needed to save this cultural resource.

    • For more information please contact: Alison Blanton, ablanton@hillstudio.com, (540) 765-7154

  • Wertland Street Historic District, City of Charlottesville

    • Last year, the historic Wertenbaker House near the University of Virginia was proposed for demolition to develop luxury student housing, though the site had already been approved for adjacent infill development. The demolition permit was denied, but the house and the Wertland Street Historic District still face significant development pressures. A buyer for the centerpiece Wertenbaker House needs to be secured while pursuing best infill development practices.

    • For more information please contact: Preservation Piedmont, preservationpiedmont@gmail.com, (434) 295-3880

  • Queen Miller Home, City of Staunton

    • Queen and William Miller committed their personal assets to the care of more than 300 African American children in need of education and community in the early 1900s. The original home on the site burned in the 1950s, and the property currently faces a tax sale. A possible preservation strategy is to secure the property to use it e as a heritage park commemorating the commitment of the Millers and the education of Black children in the Staunton region.

    • For more information please contact: Moonyene Jackson, millerjackson.historicpres@gmail.com, (443) 786-8601

  • Powhatan’s Birthplace, Henrico County

    • Threatened by a 2,700-home development, this location at the fall line of the James River is the site of Chief Wahundsenacawh’s (Powhatan’s) birthplace. Under his leadership, the Powhatan Confederacy was one of the largest native alliances in the Mid-Atlantic region. Six Virginia Indian Tribes have united to save the site, which should be accessible to the Tribes “as a place of power, remembrance, and ceremony.”

    • For more information please contact: Ashley Spivey, aaspivey@kenah.com, (202) 600-4566 Ext.002

  • Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District, City of Harrisonburg

    • Over the last decade, at least ten contributing structures were demolished in downtown Harrisonburg, a district with less than 150 buildings. A new development of 250 apartment units further threatens the district. Rightsizing infill development and encouraging the adaptive reuse of existing structures will help preserve downtown while allowing for new housing.

    • For more information please contact: Phillip Herrington, philip.m.herrington@gmail.com, (706) 414-7327

  • Joshua Falls Transmission Corridor, Multiple Counties

    • Largely driven by the result of the exponential growth of the data center industry and the energy they require, this new transmission line would be the largest ever constructed in Virginia. 11 historic districts and several battlefields may be affected. Solutions could include exploring alternate routes, using existing rights-of-way, or undergrounding the lines, but the overall project speaks to the continuing pressures created by the data center industry.

    • For more information please contact: Don McCown, dmccown@pecva.org, (434) 977-2033 x7047

  • Westwood Neighborhood, City of Richmond

    • Despite numerous attempts at erasure, Westwood remains a diverse community of single-family homes owned by generations of African Americans. Founded by formerly enslaved individuals after the Civil War, proposed changes to the local zoning code could have adverse effects on a community already under development pressure. Zoning changes that avoid displacing current residents and alleviate urban heat island effects are essential.

    • For more information please contact: Rev. Jeannette Brown, Revjlb515@gmail.com, (301) 806-6890

 

About Preservation Virginia

Preservation Virginia is a private, nonprofit organization seeking to inspire and engage the public in fostering, supporting, and sustaining Virginia’s historic places through leadership in advocacy, education, revitalization, and stewardship. In addition to operating six historic sites open to the public, Preservation Virginia advocates for the preservation of Virginia’s cultural heritage and acts as a resource on preservation issues. Learn more at www.preservationvirginia.org.

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