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

The Little Post Office

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

1. The Little Post Office Marker

Inscription. The Little Post Office
1893
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the
United States Department of the Interior
1997

The Little Post Office
1893
has been dedicated as a
Virginia Historic Landmark
by the
Virginia Board of Historic Resources
1997

Erected 1997 by U.S. Department of the Interior & Virginia Board of Historic Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 36° 41.093′ N, 79° 51.93′ W. Marker is in Martinsville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Starling Avenue (Virginia Route 57) and Mulberry Road, on the left when traveling south on Starling Avenue. The marker is located on the grounds of the Gravely-Lester Art Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 207 Starling Avenue, Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North

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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: VMNH Archaeology Research Collections Greenhouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); The John Waddey Carter House (approx. ¼ mile away); Christ Church Parish House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Changing With Industry (approx. half a mile away); The Early Years (approx. half a mile away); Furnishing a Nation (approx. half a mile away); 1990s and beyond (approx. half a mile away); 1960s to 1980s (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Martinsville.

Also see . . . National Register Nomination.

A tiny, but finely detailed building, the Little Post Office is associated with an important period in U.S. Postal Service history: the ascendancy of the star route mail delivery system during the late 19th century. The system developed as a consequence
Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

2. National Register Plaque
of railroad expansion, and star routes—so named for the custom of designating the routes with asterisks in postal records—served rural post offices away from rail lines.

(Submitted on November 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia.)

Virginia Landmark Registry Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

3. Virginia Landmark Registry Plaque

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

4. The Little Post Office Marker

The Little Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

5. The Little Post Office

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 4, 2026

6. The Little Post Office

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 4, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.