The Commonwealth Club
Commonwealth Club | |
| File:CommonwealthClubRichmond.jpg | |
| Location | 319-415 and 400-500 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Commonwealth Club Historic District (ID83003301) |
| Added to NRHP | April 7, 1983[1] |
The Commonwealth Club is a private gentlemen's club in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Its present clubhouse was completed in 1891. The defining structure of the Commonwealth Club Historic District, it is located at 401 West Franklin Street. The Commonwealth Club is considered to be one of the finest pieces of architecture in Richmond and was a physical symbol of Richmond's New South movement. The club hosts the annual Richmond German Christmas Dance, the oldest debutante ball in Virginia.
Architecture
[edit | edit source]After an unsuccessful attempt to acquire plans from local firms, the Board of the Commonwealth Club looked outside of Richmond to develop a style that reflected the momentum of a more national architectural movement. The site proposed for the building, formerly the Palmer House, was located high above the street level. While the board desired a style broadly fashionable, they also desired the building to reflect Richmond as a southern city. The New York City based firm of Carrère and Hastings was chosen from a group of four firms.
The Commonwealth Club is a unique structure among Richmond buildings. Characterized by its deep red brick, brownstone trim and terra cotta cartouches, the building is a combination of Colonial revival and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. The Colonial revival tradition is reflected to promote a heritage for the future and the Richardsonian style reflected the ability of Richmonders to afford an architectural style fashionable on a national level. It is classified by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources as Italian Renaissance Revival.[2]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]External links
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- 1891 establishments in Virginia
- Carrère and Hastings buildings
- Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- Colonial Revival architecture in Virginia
- Buildings and structures completed in 1891
- Gentlemen's clubs in the United States
- Historic district contributing properties in Virginia
- Italian Renaissance Revival architecture in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places in Richmond, Virginia
- Renaissance Revival architecture in Virginia
- Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Virginia
- Organizations based in Richmond, Virginia
- Upper class culture in Virginia