Bluefield in Mercer County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Kee Federal Building

601 Federal Street

— Bluefield Downtown Commercial Historic District —

Kee Federal Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 4, 2026

1. Kee Federal Building Marker

Inscription. Kee
Federal Building
hasbeen placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
1911

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 37° 16.032′ N, 81° 13.301′ W. Marker is in Bluefield, West Virginia, in Mercer County. It is on Federal Street (U.S. 52) north of High Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 619 Bland St, Bluefield WV 24701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southern Coalfields.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elizabeth Kee (a few steps from this marker);

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Bluefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Bailey Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Old City Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peery Building (about 400 feet away); The West Virginian Hotel (about 500 feet away); Bluefield Daily Telegraph Building (about 500 feet away); Law and Commerce Building (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluefield.

Regarding Kee Federal Building. The courthouse is described on page 11:
52. Elizabeth Kee Federal Building and Post Office, Federal Street, (Pivotal), 1911. Previously determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, this three story blond brick Second Renaissance Revival building was constructed in 1911. It is seven bays wide and three deep, on a raised ashlar limestone base. The first floor has horizontal brick banding with brick voussoirs and keystone over 12 over 12 windows. The central entrance has a projecting balcony/cornice supported by brackets and surround stones. Two story arched openings with keystones in the central bays have been filled in withPaid Advertisement
marble. These openings

The Elizabeth Kee Federal Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 4, 2026

2. The Elizabeth Kee Federal Building

are separated by rick pilasters with Doric capitols. A Terra Cota architrave sits below a frieze with triglyths and bracketed corona. It was renamed in the 1960's for Elizabeth Kee, West Virginia's first woman U.S. Representative (1953-65), and member of the powerful Kee family.

Also see . . . Bluefield Downtown Commercial Historic District. Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. (Submitted on August 31, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.