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: Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 36° 50.422′ N, 75° 58.365′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in North Virginia Beach. It can be reached from the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 12th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1141 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach
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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 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named de Witt Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Atlantic Wildfowl Museum (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); Walter Reed (about 500 feet away); Ella Fitzgerald
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025
2. de Witt Cottage Marker
Unfortunately, the marker has weathered, but it remains generally legible.
Regarding de Witt Cottage. Picture captions, clockwise, starting from the upper right:
After their parent's death and during the Great Depression, the de Witt children rented rooms to visitors vacationing in Virginia Beach.
The de Witt cottage cupoloa was and still is a distinctive landmark. In the earlier days, it was taller than many of the buildings nearby.
Cornelius de Witt used the cupola as a lookout spot for ducks and/or geese on Lake Holly, which can be seen today at 13th and Pacific Avenue.
The de Witt Cottage and Gardens.
The 22 room cottage had ample rooms for Cornelius and Cecile de Witt and their 10 children.
The de Witts kept ponies as well as cows, chickens, and rabbits on land they owned west of the cottage where The Raven Restaurant now stands.
The de Witt family named their home "Wittenzand", Dutch for "white sands".
Also see . . . The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum web site. (Submitted on July 20, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
Photographed by Kevin W., July 20, 2010
4. 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
5. 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 July 20, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,381 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on January 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5. submitted on January 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
