Eastville VA Historic Home Interior 1780 Photo

This vintage photograph captures a significant historical interior from Eastville, Virginia, located in Northampton County. The image showcases a home built in 1780 by Dr. Wm. G. Smith, later remodeled in 1830. This residence features scenic wallpapers that depict the Napoleonic Wars and the French in Egypt, underscoring the aesthetic choices of its time.

The photograph is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a comprehensive collection that documents notable Southern architecture. The house is notable for its exquisite garden, which included the finest old box maze on the Eastern Shore. This provides insight into the gardening practices and landscape design prevalent in the region during that period.

Taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston, a prominent photographer, this image is a valuable artifact for understanding American domestic life in the 19th century. The photograph was acquired from Johnstons estate in 1953 and serves as an important historical record of architectural and interior design trends in Virginia.