GUNSTON HALL

Ever heard of Gunston Hall? Me nither. Until my sister in law mentioned it recently while we were with her on a visit. She lives in VA, not far from DC, and while there a while back, she suggested we see this place because for a quick trip, this was rumored to be a neat place on the National Historic Landmark tour that she and a friend were currently on.

Gunston Hall was at one time a tobacco and corn plantation before it became the home of George Mason. Ever heard of George Mason? Me neither. George Mason was an extremely important man in VA Legislature back in the day and was highly respected by peers such as George Washington, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. His home is not on the scale of popularity that Monticello is, but still, it is a neat little gem tucked away in a remote part of VA, just minutes off of I-95.

We were not allowed to take photos inside the house, but I took plenty outside the house and around the property. We went on a guided tour of the inside though, which was really cool and while there, we got to see a crew of restoration experts working to keep the house in immaculate original condition. Amazing artisans in their own right, these men and women were doing lots of custom stains and woodwork in the house which was a treat to peek at while we were on tour.

I included a few of the exterior buildings adjacent to the main house above which are the kitchen and laundry buildings. There was a huge and very pretty back yard/garden with boxwoods that are still living that were planted when the house was built back in 1759. You can read all about the house, and George Mason from the links here in my post, and I would encourage you to do so if you have even a remote interest in the history of our nation. For someone like me who is not all that interested in history except for a few of my pet points of interest, this was really cool to see. If you are headed to our nations capitol anytime soon and find yourself in Mason Neck VA (no joke) or even close to it, add Gunston Hall to your plans.

“That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursueing and obtaining Happiness and Safety.”

-- George Mason. Virginia Declaration of Rights, May, 1776.