Point of Honor

Point of Honor is a Federal-style mansion perched on a bluff above the James River, built between 1806 and 1815. The house has distinctive octagonal bay windows on either end of the façade — an unusual architectural choice that gives it a more theatrical presence than most Virginia plantation houses. The interior is furnished to the 1820s period and open for tours.

The surrounding grounds offer good views over the James River and the hills beyond, making this a pleasant stop even for visitors who skip the interior tour. The name recalls the dueling ground that occupied this prominent hilltop site — a reminder that Lynchburg's antebellum prosperity came with the social customs of the 19th-century South.

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A story
The mansion gets its name from the duels that were once fought on this bluff above the James River. The property's builder, Dr. George Cabell, was the personal physician to Patrick Henry and a friend of Thomas Jefferson. A later resident's daughter, Nancy Langhorne, emigrated to Britain and became the first woman elected to the British Parliament — Lady Astor.