Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia)

Pythian Castle
Pythian Castle
Location 610-612 Court St., Portsmouth, Virginia
Coordinates 36°50′1″N 76°18′5″W / 36.83361°N 76.30139°WCoordinates: 36°50′1″N 76°18′5″W / 36.83361°N 76.30139°W
Area 0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built 1897-1898
Architect Edward Overman
Architectural style Romanesque Revival
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 80004316[1]
VLR # 124-0046
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 30, 1980
Designated VLR July 31, 1980[2]

The Pythian Castle is a historic 3-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 pub.[1][3]

It is located in the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  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