North Virginia Beach , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
de Witt Cottage
Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
| | Home of Back Bay Wildfowl Guild, Inc. | |
The de Witt Cottage, built in 1895 by B. P. Holland, Virginia Beach's first mayor, was the first brick structure built at the oceanfront. With 14" thick outside walls and a sturdy foundation, the building has survivied many northeasters and hurricanes. In 1909, Cornelius de Witt purchased the house and moved his family there. The family remained in the house until 1990 when it was purchased by the City of Virginia Beach.
Restoration of the house was undertaken in 1994 by the Virginia Beach Foundation and the Back Bay Wildfowl Guild. The cottage is on the National register of Historic Places, and is now a wildfowl museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 36° 50.429′ N, 75° 58.343′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in North Virginia Beach. It is at the intersection of Oceanfront Bike Path and 12th Street, on the right when traveling south on Oceanfront Bike Path. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1113 Atlantic Ave,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Tidewater, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Early Libraries of Virginia Beach (within shouting distance of this marker); Atlantic Wildfowl Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named de Witt Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Patsy Cline (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Jefferson (about 500 feet away); John Marshall (about 500 feet away); Ella Fitzgerald (about
Photographed by Kevin W., July 20, 2010
2. The de Witt Cottage
Photographed by Kevin W., July 20, 2010
3. The de Witt Cottage
The de Witt Cottage Marker is immediately inside the gate to the left in this picture.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 30, 2021
4. Additional plaques on the house
From let to right are plaques for the cottage's statuses on the National Register of Historic Places, Virginia Historic Landmarks Register, and the City of Virginia Beach Historical Register.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2025, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on January 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
