Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University
University chapel in Virginia. Built 1868. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
University Chapel of Washington and Lee University is a National Historic Landmark in Lexington, Virginia. It was constructed during 1867–68 at the request of Robert E. Lee, who was president of the school, and after whom the university is, in part, named. The Victorian brick architectural design was probably the work of Lee's son, George Washington Custis Lee, with details contributed by Col. Thomas Williamson, an architect and professor of engineering at the neighboring Virginia Military Institute. Upon completion and during Robert E. Lee's lifetime it was known as the College Chapel. Lee was buried beneath the chapel in 1870.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | Washington and Lee University campus, Lexington (Independent City), VA |
| Independent city | City of Lexington |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Military, Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000914 |
| Built | 1868 · more from the 1860s |
| Type of place | church building |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, Virginia Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Washington and Lee University campus, Lexington (Independent City), VA |
| Website | leechapel.wlu.edu ↗ |
| Coordinates | 37.7875° N, 79.4419° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Lexington (Independent City) | 15 listed places in Lexington (Independent City) → |
| Nearest national park unit | Appomattox Court House National Historical Park · 45 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Cave Mountain Lake Group Camp 15 miles · Cave Mountain Lake Group Picnic Shelter 15 miles · Cave Mountain Lake Family Camp 15 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in City of Lexington
Guidebooks to historic places in Virginia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University built?
1868.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University?
Yes. Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University?
Washington and Lee University campus, Lexington (Independent City), City of Lexington, Virginia. The nearest national park unit is Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, 45 miles away.
Where is the nomination form for Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Cave Mountain Lake Group Camp, 15 miles away. Cave Mountain Lake Group Picnic Shelter is 15 miles away, and Cave Mountain Lake Family Camp is 15 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000914. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.