Radford, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Glencoe Mansion

Wharton Family Residence

— 1875 —

Glencoe Mansion Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 12, 2025

1. Glencoe Mansion Marker

Inscription.
Has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Erected by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 37° 7.943′ N, 80° 34.828′ W. Marker is in Radford, Virginia. It can be reached from the intersection of Unruh Drive and Robertson Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the porch of the mansion, facing Unruh Drive, right by the entrance. You can access parking from either Robertson Street or West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Unruh Dr, Radford VA 24141, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

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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: Home Guards (a few steps from this marker); Radford People in History (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railroad Arrives (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Catalpa (within shouting distance of this marker); American Hackberry (within shouting distance of this marker); The City by the River (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Westward Migration (about 300 feet away); Mary Draper Ingles (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Radford.

Regarding Glencoe Mansion. Excerpts from Glencoe Nomination Form:

The house known as Glencoe is located on an expansive tract of open land, originally five acres, north of the railroad tracks along the New River on the northwest, and between Wadsworth and Robertson streets to the southwest and northeast. The dwelling is sited on a natural terrace above the
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 12, 2025

2. Glencoe Mansion Marker at main entrance
south bank of the New River in the west ward of the city of Radford, Virginia. The structure is not centrally located on the tract, but is sited to take advantage of a slight natural promontory near the point where the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad crossed the river on stone piers...

Glencoe is one of the earliest and best preserved of the several large dwellings built in the late nineteenth century in the area of the booming industrial city of Radford. These were built for the families that benefitted by their ownership of the acreage now occupied by the city of Radford ...

Glencoe was built by Gabriel and Anne Wharton on land deeded to them by Anne Radford Wharton's parents, John and Elizabeth Taylor Radford, owners of a large farm in the area of the major rail depot at Central Depot. Wharton appears to have planned the house to support his position not only as a major land developer in the area but as a leader in the founding of a branch railroad and other industrial applications exploiting the coal regions to the west. Wharton lost control of the railroad and industrial efforts to northern capital before they were built. In
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 12, 2025

3. Glencoe Mansion on the Unruh Street side
spite of these setbacks, associated with the Depression of 1873, he had the house constructed in 1875. Wharton's considerable personal wealth failed during the succeeding decade. However, the sale of the farm at Glencoe in 1887 for development as an extension of the growing city of Radford partially restored the family's financial standing.

Also see . . . Glencoe Mansion Museum & Gallery. (Submitted on June 16, 2025.)

Glencoe Mansion on the West Main Street side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 12, 2025

4. Glencoe Mansion on the West Main Street side

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.