Washington
The Inn at Little Washington
John Thornton's c. 1900 garage, later a community hall and Ford dealership, converted for the Inn in 1980; rooms span seven village buildings.
- Built
- c. 1900Main building is the former Thornton's Garage, built circa 1900 as a one-story garage and raised a story and a half circa 1910; converted for the Inn at Little Washington in 1980 (2006 NRHP update).
- Type
- Inn
- Credentials
- Inside a National Register historic district
The story
Around 1900 John Edward Thornton built a garage on the corner opposite his Washington Inn to shelter carriages and early motor cars; he soon raised it a story and a half, reportedly to move rowdy card games out of the hotel. The upper floor became the town’s first community hall for basketball, silent films and dances, and Thornton hosted a celebration there at the end of World War I. L.V. Merrill later rented it for his Ford dealership until 1945. In 1980 the owners added dormers, balustrades and porches for its use as the Inn at Little Washington.
Good to know
- Address: 309 Middle Street, Washington, VA 22747
Sources (2)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.