Pythian Castle (Portsmouth, Virginia) Explained

Pythian Castle
Nrhp Type:cp
Nocat:yes
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:July 31, 1980[1]
Designated Other1 Number:124-0046
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:610-612 Court St., Portsmouth, Virginia
Coordinates:36.8336°N -76.3014°W
Built:1897-1898
Architect:Edward Overman
Architecture:Romanesque Revival
Added:October 30, 1980
Refnum:80004316

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.[2]

It is located in the Downtown Portsmouth Historic District.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 19 March 2013.
  2. http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Portsmouth/124-0046_Pythian_Castle_1980_Final_Nomination.pdf Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff, NRHP Final Nomination Form for Pythian Castle