Next weekend looks like a great opportunity to take part in an initiative led by First lady Maureen McDonnell to open unique windows on Virginia’s history through some of its most historic homes. “To further promote the Year of the Historic Home effort, in the spring of 2013, seven historic homes across Richmond came together in a collaborative effort to open their doors admission-free to the public for an entire weekend to “Time Travel through Virginia History.” Because of the successes and benefits experienced from the spring promotional weekend, over 50 homes throughout Virginia are coming together to offer free access to the public for the weekend of September 14 and 15. “
The full text of today’s press release from the Governor’s office is below:
Historic Homes Across Virginia to Open Free to the Public September 14-15
RICHMOND – In celebration of the Executive Mansion’s 200th Anniversary, Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell designated 2013 the “Year of the Historic Home.” As a part of that effort, exclusively during the weekend of September 14 and 15, 2013, many of Virginia’s renowned historic homes and museums will be open admission-free to the public. Visitors just need to click HERE to print their ‘passport’ for free admission to the participating sites.
“We are thrilled with the excitement surrounding the Year of the Historic Home,” said First Lady Maureen McDonnell. “The spring success of the Historic Home Promotional Weekend in Richmond came as a pleasant surprise and we are looking forward to promoting this initiative in September across the Commonwealth. We encourage you to print your passport and visit these historic sites, which have been home to many of America’s Founding Fathers, U.S. presidents, and many other significant figures.”
There are over 120 sites across Virginia classified as Historic Homes that span from pre-Colonial times through the Modern era, all of which provide an abundance of cultural, historical, and architectural information and promote an understanding of, as well as an interest in, Virginia’s story.
To further promote the Year of the Historic Home effort, in the spring of 2013, seven historic homes across Richmond came together in a collaborative effort to open their doors admission-free to the public for an entire weekend to “Time Travel through Virginia History.” Because of the successes and benefits experienced from the spring promotional weekend, over 50 homes throughout Virginia are coming together to offer free access to the public for the weekend of September 14 and 15.
A list of the participating homes follows. For specific details of each home, as well as their hours of operation on September 14 and 15, please visit the Virginia Historic Home website at http://www.historicalhomes.virginia.gov/. Click on the “time travelers” link while on the site and print your passport in order to be granted free admission.
Agecroft Halls and Gardens Richmond, VA
Ball-Sellers House Arlington, VA
Balthis House Front Royal, VA
Belle Boyd Cottage Front Royal, VA
Belle Grove Plantation Middletown, VA
Belle Grove Plantation, Birthplace of James Madison King George, VA
Boykin’s Tavern Museum Isle of Wright, VA
Captain Timothy Hill House Chincoteague Island, VA
Centre Hill Museum Petersburg, VA
Clarke-Palmore Henrico, VA
Dabbs House Museum Henrico, VA
Edgar Allan Poe Museum Richmond, VA
Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Historical Home Wytheville, VA
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Alexandria, VA
Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont Falmouth, VA
George Washington Birthplace National Monument Washington’s Birthplace, VA
Glencoe Museum & Gallery Radford, VA
Gunston Hall Lorton, VA
Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum Wytheville, VA
Hanover Tavern Hanover, VA
Hermitage Museum and Gardens Norfolk, VA
Historic Kenmore and George Washington’s Sister’s House Fredericksburg, VA
Holladay House Bed and Breakfast Orange, VA
Inn at Hans Meadow Christiansburg, VA
Ivy Lodge Museum & Gift Shoppe Front Royal, VA
John Marshall House Richmond, VA
Ker Place Onancock, VA
Lanesville Ordinary Sterling, VA
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden Alexandria, VA
Magnolia Grange Plantation House Museum Chesterfield, VA
Mansion on Main (Thomas House) Smithfield, VA
Marshall House Leesburg, VA
Maymont Mansion Richmond, VA
Meadow Farm Museum Glen Allen, VA
Menokin Warsaw, VA
Middlecourt Hampden-Sydney College, VA
Morven Park Leesburg, VA
Oatlands Historic House and Gardens Leesburg, VA
Old Coast Guard Station Virginia Beach, VA
Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown Beaverdam, VA
Penshurst Hampden-Sydney College, VA
Point of Honor Lynchburg, VA
Red Hill – Patrick Henry National Memorial Brookneal, VA
Smith’s Fort Plantation Surry, VA
Stonewall Jackson House Lexington, VA
Stratford Hall Stratford, VA
Sully Historic Site Chantilly, VA
Sutherlin Mansion – Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville, VA
Virginia’s Bacon’s Castle Surry, VA
Walkerton Tavern Glen Allen, VA
Weems-Botts Museum Dumfries, VA
Weston Plantation Hopewell, VA
White House of the Confederacy Richmond, VA
Wickham House Richmond, VA
Williams-Brown House Salem, VA
Wilton House Museum Richmond, VA
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