North Downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Town Hall
⎯⎯⎯
Levy Opera House

Charlottesville's First Performing Arts Center

— Charlottesville, Virginia - 1762 —

Town Hall / Levy Opera House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 3, 2021

1. Town Hall / Levy Opera House Marker

Inscription. Erected by private interests in 1852 as a Town Hall, this building also served as an auditorium hosting traveling plays and musical events featuring performers such as opera singer Jenny Lind. It was also used by other organizations, such as Charlottesville's first Roman Catholic Church which began here. During the Civil War it served as a hospital (for wounded soldiers transported here via the railroad), and a place where Confederate uniforms were stitched together. in 1888 Jefferson Monroe Levy, a Jewish man who owned Monticello, remodeled it to seat 800 and named it the Levy Opera House. In 1981 Hedgerow Corporation Henderson Heyward, architect renovated it to accommodate office space. The original site and the area to the north was known as the Battery, a parade ground for military drills and recreation. In March of 1865 Federal troops used it during their occupation of the city, and General Philip Sheridan had his headquarters just north on Park Street.

Erected by City of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment •

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Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1865.

Location. 38° 1.907′ N, 78° 28.614′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in North Downtown. It is on Park Street just south of East High Street (Business U.S. 250), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 350 Park St, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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: Jack Jouett’s Ride (a few steps from this marker); Site of Old Swan Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Courthouse Square (within shouting distance of this marker);

The Town Hall and Levy Opera House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 3, 2021

2. The Town Hall and Levy Opera House

Albemarle County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Lynching in America / Lynching of John Henry James (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bicentennial Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Mercantile Business (within shouting distance of this marker); Albemarle County (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 644 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Town Hall⎯⎯⎯Levy Opera House

Charlottesville's First Performing Arts Center

— Charlottesville, Virginia - 1762 —

Town Hall
⎯⎯⎯
Levy Opera House