History of Violet Bank and Revolutionary War

Thomas Shore was the first person to buy in the Colonial Heights section, purchasing one hundred and forty-four acres in 1775. The home was completed by 1778. What Thomas Shore could not anticipate was that the Revolutionary War would knock on his door only three years later with two battles.

The first battle occurred in March 1881, with forces under General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben repulsing a British attack under British Major General William Phillips. The British too heavy losses, nearing two hundred. One month later, Phillips would attack again against the troops and artillery of General Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. The attack was defeated again. Although rumors state that Lafayette was at Violet Bank, he was not. His artillery was.

Photo above: Period photo of Violet Bank, 1935, Albert S. Burns, Historic American Buildings Survey. Courtesy Library of Congress. Below: General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben of the Continental Army, 1780, Charles Willson Peale. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Buy Second Edition
America's Best History Timeline

Great book to keep middle school to college students up to date on their American history.

Violet Bank, Civil War Era

General Lee had visited Petersburg two years before his arrival in 1864, to inspect the Dimmock Line of first defenses there. He understood that the high ground was excellent territory to defend and that Petersburg was the back door to Richmond. When he arrived in 1864 and headquartered at Violet Bank, he already had family connections with the occupants, the Shippens. Lee was welcomed by the family on June 18, but chose his tent and grounds for around five others instead of the house. One exception, a meeting with Jefferson Davis in the parlor on June 30, 1864. On July 30, 1864, the Pennsylvania miners blew up the Crater, though Lee was too far away to hear. Lee would abandon Violet Bank on November 1, 1864 as the falling leaves left the home exposed. He moved to Beasley House on High Street.

Image above: Sign explaining Lee's headquarters at Violet Bank, 2025. Below: Civil War exhibit in side Violet Bank Museum, 2025. Both courtesy America's Best History.

The Magnolia Tree at Violet Bank

The Cucumber Magnolia tree was planted in 1718. It is not known by whom. There is another rumor that states in was Thomas Jefferson, but there is no proof. It has lasted through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and neighborhood construction to stand today as the second largest in the world. Today, its branches reach the ground and come very close to the porch of Violet House. The docent stated that the house was lesser known and liked than the tree. And that the neighborhood would never allow anyone to harm or remove it. Let's hope that remains true for another three hundred years.

Photo above: Historic photo of limb of the Cucumber Magnolia Tree with the Violet Bank behind, 1935, Alfred S. Burns, Historic American Buildings Survey. Courtesy Library of Congress. Below: Second floor ballroom/parlor in Violet Bank, 2025. Courtesy America's Best History.

T-Shirts and Gifts from the official souvenirs of Americasbesthistory.com.