Poplar Lawn Historic District

The district is named after Petersburg's central park, which spans about two city blocks. In the early 19th century, it was often used as a military parade ground, but during he American Civil War, it became a tent-based detention center and hospital. Later, it became the site of civic celebrations, including possibly the first Memorial Day, on June 9, 1865. The district also includes 372 contributing buildings, mostly mid- to late-19th-century, single-family residences for middle and upper-middle-class families, some constructed of brick, others weatherboard frame, and later subdivided…