Thursday January 29, 2009
Early American Life
Many attractions in and around Washington, DC, give insight into early American life and interests. English settlers first came to America in the early 1600s, and began settling up the Potomac into the area that became our nation's capital in the late 18th century. The sites listed below include early American life and information.
Arlington House (the Custis-Lee Mansion) No admission charged; reservations are not required, but groups are limited to 25 at one time. |
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This was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for 30 years, it was originally built by George Washington Parke Custis as a memorial to his step-grandfather George Washington. It was in this house that Robert E. Lee wrote his resignation letter from the U.S. Army on April 20, 1861. The home is currently empty of furnishings in preparation for a major restoration and rehabilitation project which began in the summer of 2007. The restoration is scheduled to be completed in 2010. |
Ash Lawn-Highland (James Monroe's home) |
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Located in Albemarle County near Monticello and Montpelier approximately two hours southwest of Washington, DC, Ash Lawn-Highland was home to our 5th President James Monroe for nearly a quarter of a century. |
| Berkeley Plantation (Harrison ancestral home) (804) 829-6018 12602 Harrison Landing Road, Charles City, VA 23030 9am-5pm daily; closed Thanksgiving, December 25 Admission charged, $6-11; guided house tours available |
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Considered one of the first great estates in America; the first official Thanksgiving was celebrated here on December 4, 1619. Berkeley Plantation was home to the Harrison family--6th President William Henry Harrison, and his grandson, the 23rd President Benjamin Harrison. |
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(703) 549-2997 121 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday; 12-4pm Sunday; closed Mondays Admission charged |
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This historic 18th-century Palladian-style mansion, located in Alexandria, was built in the 1750s. George Washington was a frequent overnight guest at Carlyle House. It served as the initial headquarters for Major-General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War. It operated as a hotel during the mid 1800s, and was occupied by Union forces during the Civil War. |
| Christian Heurich House Mansion (The Brewmaster's Castle) (202) 429-1894 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 Walk-in tours conducted 11:30am, 1 pm Wednesday-Friday; 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm Saturday Admission charged |
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This Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places is considered one of the most intact late-Victorian homes. It was built in the 1880s by German immigrant and local brewer Christian Heurich (HI-rick), who ran his brewery until his death at 102-1/2. |
| Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum (202) 628-1776 1776 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 9:30am-4pm Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm Saturday; closed Sundays No admission charged |
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Self-guided and guided tours available in this 1910 Beaux Arts building, which emphasizes the role of women throughout American history. Exhibits include everyday items out of America's past (generally up to 1840), including a four-sided mousetrap that guillotines its captures. A Touch Area is available for children. You can also tour period rooms. |
Decatur House Museum |
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One of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC, Decatur House was completed in 1818 for naval hero Stephen Decatur. It features a Federalist style and counts Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren and Edward Livingston among its past residents. |
Dumbarton Oaks 2pm-6pm daily March 15-Octoberr 31; closed Mondays and during inclement weather and federal holidays |
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The gardens at Dumbarton Oaks incorporate elements of French, English and Italian gardens. The formal gardens cover ten acres of beautiful landscape and small formal gardens along with a Roman-style amphitheater. |
Ferry Farm (George Washington's home) |
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George Washington's family roots are deep in historic Fredericksburg. He lived on Ferry Farm from six years old to about 19 when he moved to Mount Vernon. |
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134 N. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 838-4242 November-March: 11am-4pm, Wednesday-Saturday; Sunday 1-4pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays April-October: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday and Monday 1-5 pm; closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25 Admission charged |
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Visitors will get a “slice of life” picture of what life was like for everyday early Americans. The Gadsby’s Tavern Museum consists of two buildings, a 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel. George Washington’s Birthnight Ball and an inaugural banquet for Thomas Jefferson were held at the location, which is now a National Historic Landmark in Old Town Alexandria. |
| Gunston Hall Plantation (George Mason's home) (703) 550-9220 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, VA 22079 9:30am-5pm daily; closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25 Admission charged, $4-8; guided house tours available |
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Located 20 miles south of Washington, DC, the home of George Mason is a National Historic Landmark which was constructed in the 1750s. Mason, one of the Founding Fathers, contributed significantly to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. |
Kenmore Plantation (Family home of George Washington's sister) |
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This Georgian mansion, built in the 1770s by Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister, is famous for its ornate plasterwork ceilings. |
Lincoln's Cottage 140 Rock Creek Church Road, NW, Washington, DC November 1-March 31: 10am-3pm Monday-Saturday; 12-3pm Sunday April 1-October 31: 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday; 12-4pm Sunday Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, December 25 Admission charged, $5-12; advance purchase strongly recommended |
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This cottage, newly opened to the public, gives an intimate, never-before-seen view of Abraham Lincoln, who spent most of the summers during his presidency in this cottage, commuting to the White House daily by horseback or carriage. The cottage, which is located on the grounds of the Soldier's Home, was designated a National Monument in 2000, and opened for public tours in February 2008 after a seven-year, $15 million restoration project. |
Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) |
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Estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States. Located in Albemarle County, Virginia, approximately two hours from Washington, DC; near Ash Lawn-Highland and Montpelier. |
| Montpelier (James Madison's home) (540) 672-0411 11407 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA 22957 9:30am-5:30pm April-October; 9:30am-4:30pm November-March; Closed Thanksgiving and December 25 |
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Home of James Madison, 4th President of the United States and the Father of the Constitution. Located about two hours southwest of Washington, DC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, James Madison was raised at Montpelier and lived here for his entire life except during his presidency. |
Mount Vernon (George Washington's home) |
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Home and final resting place of America's 1st President, George Washington. During the time that Washington lived here (more than 45 years), Mount Vernon was an 8,000-acre plantation, which was divided into five farms; each was a complete unit. The farm where Washington and his family lived was called the "Mansion House Farm," and is the part of the plantation that we refer to today as "Mount Vernon." Washington inherited the property from his older half-brother, who named the property in honor of his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British navy. |
| The Octagon House (202) 638-3221 1799 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC Pre-arranged tours available by appointment for groups between 10 and 25 people Admission charged |
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This residence, designed by Dr. William Thornton who was the architect of the U.S. Capitol, served as a temporary "Executive Mansion" for President James Madison in 1814 after the British burned the White House. Extensive restoration has brought back the home's elegance and Georgian architecture features. |
| Old Stone House Garden (202) 426-6851 3051 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 12-5pm Wednesday-Sunday |
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| This English garden in Georgetown, on the site of the oldest surviving building in the Washington area, is managed by the National Park Service and features fruit trees and flowers. | |
| Poplar Forest (Thomas Jefferson's home) (434) 525-1806 1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest, VA 24551 10am-4pm Wednesday-Monday, April-November; closed Tuesdays |
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This plantation and octagonal-shaped home near Lynchburg, Virginia, was used as a retreat by our nation's 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson. He considered it "the most valuable" of his possessions and called it "the best dwelling house in the state except that of Monticello." |
| Scotchtown Plantation (Patrick Henry's home) (804) 227-3500 16120 Chiswell Lane, Beaverdam, VA 23015 10am-4:30pm Thursday-Saturday, April-October; closed Easter, Mother’s Day, July 4th |
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Home to Patrick Henry, Virginia's first governor and one of the most well-known orators and patriots, from 1771 to 1778. It is located 11 miles northwest of Ashland, Virginia, in Beaverdam. |
| Stratford Hall Plantation (Lee ancestral home) (804) 493-8038 483 Great House Road, Stratford, VA 22558 9:30am-4pm daily; check website for closures in January and December Admission charged, $4.50-10; guided house tours available |
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This National Historic Landmark was home to the Lee family (Thomas Lee, birthplace of Richard Henry Lee and Robert E. Lee). It is about two hours from Washington, DC. |
| Tudor Place Garden (202) 965-0400 1644 31st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 10am-4pm daily Admission charged |
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Tudor Place in Georgetown Heights was built by Martha Washington's granddaughter and her husband. The 5-1/2 acre garden features a box edging from Mount Vernon with a large collection of period flowers and shrubs. |
