Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Williamsburg

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
James Semple House
Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · tap to enlarge
★ National Historic Landmark

James Semple House

Listed as “Semple, James, House”

One of 125 National Historic Landmarks in Virginia6 of them in Williamsburg, the highest tier of the National Register
Listed 1970Williamsburg
DirectionsAdd an old photo

Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.

About

About James Semple House

James Semple House, at S side of Frances St. between Blair and Walker Sts., was added to the National Register of Historic Places and named a National Historic Landmark on the same day, Apr 15, 1970: one of 125 Landmarks in Virginia and 6 in Williamsburg. It was among the first 5 of Williamsburg’s 14 listings, with two others the same day. The Register lists it for its architecture, at the national level. The listing covers 1 acre.

What it isHistoric house in Virginia, United States. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗

PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 41 MB · National Archives↗
Through the years

1770 to today

  1. 1770Built
  2. 1970Added to the National Register and named a National Historic Landmark
  3. 2026On the Register for 56 years
Visit

Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 20 minutes

S side of Frances St. between Blair and Walker Sts., Williamsburg · about 0.6 miles on foot, as the crow flies

DirectionsWalk the tour in Google Maps
  1. 1James Semple HouseStart here
  2. 2Williamsburg InnLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals · Built 1937 · 0.2 mi on
  3. 3Williamsburg Historic DistrictDistrict · 0.2 mi on
  4. 4Peyton Randolph HouseGeorgian · 0.1 mi on
  5. 5Merchants Square and Resort Historic DistrictColonial, Colonial Revival · 0.1 mi on
Around it

7 more Register listings within a mile

★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.

★Bruton Parish ChurchGothic · Built 17150.6 mi★Wythe HouseGeorgian0.6 miBWhaley, Matthew, SchoolLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals0.7 miBArmistead HouseBuilding0.8 miDChandler Court and Pollard Park Historic District (Additional Documentation)20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival0.9 mi★Wren Building, College of William and MaryRenaissance · Built 16950.9 miBFirst Baptist ChurchBuilt 19561 mi
More like it

Other National Historic Landmarks nearby

The nearest Landmarks with a photo, within 25 miles, and the year each was named.

Williamsburg Historic District0.3 mi away · 1960
Peyton Randolph House0.4 mi away · 1970
Bruton Parish ChurchBuilt 1715 · 0.6 mi away · 1970
Wythe House0.6 mi away · 1970

Memories of James Semple House

The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Have you been to James Semple House?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Start a conversation
Have an old photo of it?Add it · +10

Questions about James Semple House

Is James Semple House on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. It was added on Apr 15, 1970 (Register number 70000864).

Is James Semple House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes, since Apr 15, 1970. Virginia has 125 National Historic Landmarks, 6 of them in Williamsburg.

Can you visit James Semple House?

Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.

Where can I read the history of James Semple House?

In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 41 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.

Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 41679182 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.