HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
One of the oldest surviving brick houses in the United States, built c. 1719 — museum staff consistently report a woman in colonial dress appearing in the rooms and on the grounds
1636 Parish Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Admission is free. Tours depart every 45 minutes.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Garden paths and historic house interior; some narrow doorways typical of colonial construction
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1719 · National Historic Landmark (1960) · National Register of Historic Places (1966) · One of Oldest Surviving Brick Houses in the US
The house at 1636 Parish Road was built around 1719, almost 80 years after Adam Thoroughgood, the colonial leader for whom the structure is named, died in 1640. Archaeological and architectural analysis points to Argall Thorowgood II, the great-grandson of Adam, as the builder. Argall Thorowgood died during the construction, and his widow Susannah oversaw its completion. Their son John later added significant interior work including wainscoting and a turned staircase.
The house was constructed in the Flemish bond brick pattern typical of English colonial Virginia construction. Its small scale — four rooms across two floors — reflects both the modest means of the builder and the conventions of early eighteenth-century domestic architecture in the tidewater region. Despite its modest size, the brick construction was a significant investment for the period and reflects the family's status in Princess Anne County.
The house underwent major restorations in 1923, the 1950s, and from 2004 to 2011. The City of Virginia Beach acquired the property in 2003. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on October 9, 1960, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The house opened to the public as a museum on April 29, 1957. Today it operates as part of Virginia Beach History Museums, offering free admission and guided tours Thursday through Sunday.
Sources
The apparition most consistently reported at the Thoroughgood House is a woman in colonial clothing. One named witness, Catherine Van Elsaker, described the figure: 'There was a lady dressed in Colonial clothes... She smiled and kind of waved her hand and disappeared.' In 2008 a school group on a guided tour reported seeing a woman in a white gown walking near a window holding a candle.
A second figure appears in some accounts: a small man in colonial brown clothing, seen by visitors who reported finding the bed in one room with a deep indentation as though someone were sitting on it.
The most cited physical incident occurred in front of a docent and a group of thirty visitors, when four hurricane lamp globes lifted simultaneously from their candles and fell to the floor. The docent and tour group both witnessed the event; no explanation was found.
Staff also report footsteps in empty rooms, unexplained knocks, and a recurring sense of workers visible in the gardens who are not present when approached. Several accounts note the presence of colonial-costumed interpreters on staff, and at least some sightings may reflect misidentification — the house is candid about this possibility.
Neptune Ghosts, a Virginia Beach ghost tour operator, includes the Thoroughgood House on its list of the top ten most haunted places in Virginia Beach.
Notable Entities
Guided tours of the c. 1719 brick house and the restored English formal garden. Visitors begin at the Education Center to learn about Princess Anne County's history and the Thorowgood family before touring the house's period furnishings and original architectural details.
Some links on this page may earn HauntBound a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial picks are independent. Full disclosure
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Free Guide
9 verified stops, rated for families, mapped in order. Free.
One email to confirm, then the guide link. Unsubscribe anytime.
Yuma, AZ
Yuma Territorial Prison operated from 1876 to 1909 on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River in Yuma, Arizona. It held 3,069 prisoners during its 33-year operation, including 29 women. The facility became a state historic park and has been voted by USA Today readers as the Best Haunted Destination in the nation.
Hancock, MI
The Quincy Mining Company began extracting copper from the Keweenaw Peninsula in 1846 and operated continuously until 1945, producing nearly a billion pounds of copper. During that period, 253 workers died in documented underground accidents. At its deepest, the mine reached 9,000 feet — the deepest copper mine in the world at the time — and its No. 2 shaft hoist house is a National Historic Landmark.
Fredericksburg, VA
Charles Washington, youngest brother of George Washington, built this frame structure around 1760 as his Fredericksburg residence. In 1792 it became a tavern under John Frazer, a Continental Army veteran. Frazer died on the premises on November 28, 1793. The building became a public museum in 1907 under the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and is now operated by Washington Heritage Museums.