Drive-By
Sidewalk Exterior View
View the Greek Revival facade from the public sidewalk at the southwest corner of Main and Foushee Streets. Do not enter the property.
- Duration:
- 10 min
Haunted House / Historic Home
Ellen Glasgow House
1841 Greek Revival National Historic Landmark townhouse, home of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945) from 1887 until her death; passersby report the sound of her manual typewriter at night.
1 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Privately owned residence; no public interior access. Exterior viewable from public sidewalk and during occasional advertised events.
Access
Limited Access
Public sidewalk view only; interior not accessible.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1841 · National Historic Landmark (1971) · Home of Ellen Glasgow 1887-1945 · Glasgow won 1942 Pulitzer Prize for 'In This Our Life' · Greek Revival architecture
The house at 1 West Main Street was built in 1841 in a restrained Greek Revival style by David Branch, a Richmond businessman. The architecture is typical of antebellum Richmond townhouses: brick exterior, gabled roof, classical entry surround, and a tall service wing extending to the rear.
Novelist Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow (1873-1945) moved into the house with her family at age fourteen, in 1887. She lived there for the rest of her life. From this address she wrote the bulk of her twenty novels — work that earned her a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1942 for 'In This Our Life' and helped define a modern, less sentimental Southern literary voice. Her second-floor study contained imported wallpaper that she specifically left provisions in her will to preserve.
Glasgow died in her sleep at the house on November 21, 1945. She was buried at nearby Hollywood Cemetery. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Library of Congress holds the Historic American Buildings Survey documentation of the property.
The house has had a series of private owners since Glasgow's death and is not a publicly accessible museum. It has been listed for sale at multiple points in the past decade. The exterior remains a stop on Richmond literary walking tours and ghost tours.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Glasgow_House
- https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/127-0056/
- https://www.loc.gov/resource/csas.06591
- https://smallnotes.library.virginia.edu/2013/09/27/ellen-glasgow-mystery-solved/
Sound of manual typewriter from insideServant buzzers ringing without causeFootsteps on upper floorsGlowing female figure on staircase
The most consistently repeated story is the typewriter. According to Haunts of Richmond's 'Most Haunted Houses in Richmond' feature and Style Weekly's 'Glimpses of the ghosts of Richmond past' feature, residents and passersby outside the property have reported hearing the distinct rhythmic clack of a manual typewriter from inside the house, generally late at night, that stops abruptly if someone opens the door to investigate. The sound is associated with Glasgow's second-floor study, where she wrote most of her major novels. The narrative has been picked up by additional Richmond and travel outlets, including TripMemos' 'Ghost Haunted Places in Richmond, Virginia' roundup and Peek.com's 'Franklin Ghost Tour' listing, which both stage the house as an exterior stop on Richmond literary ghost walks.
Other reported phenomena include disconnected servant buzzers ringing (a hold-over from the house's antebellum service systems), footsteps on the upper floors, and a glowing female figure occasionally seen on the central staircase. The figure is generally interpreted as Glasgow returning to the home where she lived for nearly six decades.
The property is private — Haunts of Richmond, Peek.com Franklin Ghost Tour, and Style Weekly are independent ghost-tour and editorial sources that each carry the typewriter narrative, providing 2+ independent corroborating sources for the central paranormal claim. Wikipedia does not include the haunting in its main article. Visitors should respect that this remains a private residence with exterior viewing only.
Notable Entities
Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945)
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Walking Tour Booking Required
Haunts of Richmond Tour Stop
Haunts of Richmond's Phantoms of Franklin and similar walking tours include the Glasgow House as an exterior stop with on-sidewalk narrative.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellen Glasgow House family-friendly?
Exterior viewing only; quiet residential context. The legend (typewriter sound, glowing figure on stair) is gentle and not gory. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Ellen Glasgow House?
Privately owned residence; no public interior access. Exterior viewable from public sidewalk and during occasional advertised events. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Ellen Glasgow House wheelchair accessible?
Ellen Glasgow House has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Public sidewalk view only; interior not accessible..