Idlewild (Fredericksburg, Virginia)

Idlewild
Location1501 Gateway Blvd., Fredericksburg, Virginia
Coordinates38°17′26″N 77°30′20″W / 38.29056°N 77.50556°W / 38.29056; -77.50556
Area6.6 acres (2.7 ha)
Built1859 (1859)
Built byTongue, James
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.09000415
VLR No.111-0151
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 8, 2009
Designated VLRMarch 19, 2009

Idlewild, also known as the Downman House, was a historic home located at Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was built in 1859; a fire in April 2003 destroyed most of the interior and collapsed the roof. It was a 2+12-story, Gothic Revival-style brick dwelling with an English basement and an irregular "T" shape with a center passage plan. The house was topped by a steep slate gable roof. Also on the property at present are three contributing brick dependencies and a contributing pet cemetery. During the American Civil War, Idlewild became a prominent landmark on 4 May 1863, during battle action related to the Chancellorsville campaign. On that evening Confederate General Robert E. Lee used the house as his headquarters, after being initially occupied that day by Federal troops of the Union Sixth Corps.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.