Historic Miller Claytor

A pivotal moment in Lynchburg’s preservation, and the origin story of The Lynchburg Historical Foundation.

The Historic Miller-Claytor House that once sat on the corner of 8th and Church Streets was the first large-scale preservation project to take place in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Miller-Claytor is the cornerstone of historical preservation in Lynchburg which led to what is known today as the Lynchburg Historical Foundation. Local legends add to the charm and significance of this historical landmark.

Historic Miller-Claytor was built in 1791 by John Miller. He later sold it to his son-in-law, who then rented it out to the Owen Owens family for fifteen years. It was not until 1835 that it was purchased by Samuel Claytor. A century later the modest two-story house stood on valuable land, and was being overlooked by tall business buildings.

A group of men and women from the Lynchburg Art Club, Lynchburg Garden Club, the Architect’s Club and the Junior League came together to relocate and restore Miller-Claytor. Walker Pettyjohn sold the house to the society for a small amount of $100.00. In 1935, it was removed from its original location and moved to Riverside Park, where it was re-erected. It was formally revealed to the public in October 1936, and still stands there today.