Abijah Thomas House

The Abijah Thomas House is an octagonal residential building from the 1850s in Marion, Virginia. It contains seventeen rooms and ten closets, with the bricks for construction manufactured directly on the property.

The house was built in 1856 for textile manufacturer Abijah Thomas, who owned a large estate. The eight-sided design reflected an architectural movement that spread across America during the 1850s.

The interior walls display painted decorations with techniques like marbleizing and stencil patterns visible throughout the rooms. These handcrafted details give the house its distinctive appearance and show the care taken in its design.

The building sits southwest of Marion on Virginia Route 657 and is easy to locate. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and wear sturdy shoes, as the historic site has unpaved paths around the grounds.

The bricks were made from clay mined directly on the property, showing how the estate was self-sufficient in building materials. This local construction method was both practical and gave the building regional character.

Location: Smyth County

Inception: 1856

GPS coordinates: 36.77420,-81.57030

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:41