North Newport News , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Homestead by the Main Road
Lee Hall Mansion is the only Italianate antebellum plantation house remaining on the lower Peninsula. It was completed in 1859 and was home to Richard D. Lee, justice of the peace for Warwick County. In 1850 Lee purchased a 452-acre tract of land, which was listed as the homestead by the main road. He began construction of this house in the mid-1850s.
Built on high ground, Lee Hall Mansion provided a commanding view of the countryside and was visible to travelers on the Great Warwick Road. Lees stately home consisted of three floors, 12 rooms and fireplaces and over 6,000 square feet. It served as the headquarters for Confederate generals Joseph E. Johnston and John B. Magruder from March through May 1862. The Confederate War Department rented 8 rooms from Mr. Lee.
Several architectural styles are visible at Lee Hall. Scrolled bracketed cornices support the Italianate porticos and low-hipped roof. The interior contains three original plaster ceiling medallions and a Georgian symmetrical floor plan with rooms opening into a long central hallway. The exterior also has Greek Revival dentils on the architrave and Gothic columns near the sidelights.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in
this page online
Location. 37° 11.982′ N, 76° 34.554′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in North Newport News. It can be reached from Yorktown Road (Virginia Route 238), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the grounds of Lee Hall Mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 163 Yorktown Rd, Newport News VA 23603, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula, in Hampton Roads, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Large Brick Kitchen (a few steps from this marker); Largest and Most Valuable Estate in the County (within shouting distance of this marker); Master and Slaves (within shouting distance of this marker); An Earthwork In Front (about 300 feet away); Lee Hall (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Lee Hall (about 800 feet away); Chessie System Caboose (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Lee Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.
Other markers no longer nearby. An Earthwork in Front (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Lee Hall (was about 600 feet away but has
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008
2. Homestead by the Main Road Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker. While the inscription is identical to the later version, there are slight formatting differences.
More about this marker. The bottom right of the marker contains a photograph of Lee Hall Mansion, c. 1937. Photo: Works Progress Administration.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Markers located at Lee Hall.
Also see . . .
1. Lee Hall Mansion. (Submitted on February 28, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Peninsula Campaign. (Submitted on February 28, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
![Marker at Lee's Hall [prior iteration] image. Click for full size.](Photos/54/Photo54437.jpg?619202590200PM "Marker at Lee's Hall [prior iteration]. Click for full size.")
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008
4. Marker at Lee's Hall [prior iteration]
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008
5. Lee Hall Mansion
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,410 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 19, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on February 28, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on June 19, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5. submitted on February 28, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
