American Viscose Plant Historic District | |
 The American Viscose Plant as viewed from the Ninth Street Bridge | |
   | |
| Location | 9th Street SE, Industry Avenue SE, River Avenue SE, and Progress Drive SE, Roanoke, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°15′20″N 79°55′20″W / 37.25556°N 79.92222°W |
| Area | 65 acres (26 ha) |
| Built | 1916–1955 |
| Architect | The Ballinger Company |
| Architectural style | Industrial |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004260[1] |
| VLR No. | 128-0238 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 6, 2019 |
| Designated VLR | June 20, 2019[2] |
The American Viscose Plant Historic District is an industrial park and historic district located in Roanoke, Virginia. The site is the location of the former American Viscose Corporation rayon processing plant that once employed over 5,000 and for a time was reportedly the largest rayon producing mill in the world. The plant's construction began in 1916 with the building of the first of what became three large processing plants of two spinning units each; the second began construction in 1921 and the third in 1925. With the plant's viability decreased by newer facilities elsewhere and rayon's usage supplanted by nylon and other synthetic fabrics, the factory closed in 1958. The property was purchased by an assortment of Roanoke investors in 1961 and has been operated as an industrial park since.
The district consists of 20 contributing resources, including 16 buildings, two structures, and two sites. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. As of 2023[update], it was in the early stages of redevelopment into a mixed-use district of residential and commercial use.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved September 18, 2023.