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Monday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Name: Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House
Address: 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA, 22309, US
Telephone: +17037804000
Price range: $
Rating: 4.5

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Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Explore 126 acres and two historic houses, Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House Capitol. Mrs.
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Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House are two historic sites owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We are innovative partners with the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture as well as Nelly's Needlers, a group of dedicated women who continue needlepoint in Woodlawn's first owner, Nelly Custis' honor, as a way to support our sites. Woodlawn, the first s

ite operated by the National Trust, was part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. In 1799, he gave the site to his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, and Lewis’ new bride, Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, Martha’s granddaughter, in hopes of keeping Nelly close to Mount Vernon. The newly-married couple built the Georgian/Federal house designed by William Thornton, architect of the U.S. In 1846, the entire plantation was sold to Quaker timber merchants, who purposefully operated the farm plantation with free labor, making a statement in Virginia on the eve of the Civil War. At the turn of the twentieth century, two separate owners, Paul Kester and Elizabeth Sharpe, lovingly restored the property using the best Colonial Revival architects and builders. Senator Oscar Underwood from Alabama, an uncompromising advocate for civil rights, lived at the mansion from 1925 until his death in 1929. Operated as a historic house museum since 1949, Woodlawn is an interesting case-study of the cultural relevance of the house museum. Woodlawn relies on local support and engagement to succeed. During the 1930s, Frank Lloyd Wright set his formidable attention towards designing affordable middle-class residences. More than 100 of these modest homes, referred to as Usonian, thought to mean “the United States of North America,” were constructed between 1936 and Wright’s death in 1959, including the Pope-Leighey house (1940). Commissioned in 1939 by Loren Pope, a journalist in Falls Church, the residence was sold to Robert and Marjorie Leighey in 1946. The house was in the path of an expansion of Highway 66, so in an effort to preserve the building, Mrs. Leighey gave the property to the National Trust, which relocated it to nearby Woodlawn and granted her lifetime tenancy. Leighey occupied the house at Woodlawn, until her death in 1983. Unusually, the house required a second move due to the instability of the clay soil, and was relocated about thirty feet up the hill in 1995-96.

12/01/2023

It's the first of December! While the days may be getting shorter, there is still lots to do at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House this month.

▪️ Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey will be open for tours through December 31st! Bring your friends and family and engage with the full history of the sites. This will be the last time to take a tour until our reopening in spring 2024!
Please note, we will be closed December 24-25, 2023.
Book your tour today: https://tinyurl.com/3mfk5am5

▪️ December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16: Holiday Tours at Pope-Leighey House. Get into the holiday season with mid-century decorations, and hot cocoa during our special evening tours!
Tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/yc7fnpkj

▪️ December 14 - 18: Friends and Family Sale! All purchases made at the museum gift shop will be 25% off.

▪️ Through December 31: Sheryl Sims' exhibit 'Story Quilts Inspired by Family and Faith.' The exhibit is included with the purchase of a ticketed tour or can be visited free of charge during our regular hours.

Do you want to stay up-to-date on news at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here! https://tinyurl.com/ympu2nvu

11/28/2023

It's ! Make a difference with your donation today by supporting the work of revitalizing Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House.

Over the last two years we have prioritized historic preservation, collections care, research, and education. Your gift helps us preserve and share the site’s history in authentic, thought-provoking, and sustainable ways. Your contribution will continue the educational work that is amplifying the incredible history here, making it more accessible to old and new friends.

Donate here: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/4UrL-e6e-O49tUcYrQKI2A

11/22/2023

Don't forget to grab your tickets to Holiday Tours at Pope-Leighey House! Get into the holiday season with mid-century decorations, and hot cocoa during our special evening tours.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased here: https://tinyurl.com/33nm3tpm

11/22/2023

Are you interested in working at Woodlawn? Applications are now open for our Part-Time Maintenance Technician position!

Find out more here: https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/careers

11/20/2023

Do you have a history lover on your holiday list? Looking to surprise your loved ones with experiences they can bring into the new year?

For a limited time only, you can purchase a gift certificate for a Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey Combo Tour - normally a $25 value, for only $20!

This gift certificate can be used for any combo tour in 2024. The Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey tour season runs from mid-April through the end of December. Please check our website to confirm dates/times. Certificates purchased will be valid through the end of 2024.

Combo Tour Gift Certificates can be purchased here: https://tinyurl.com/3pmfb472

11/15/2023

This Friday, November 17, enjoy the unique opportunity to visit the Pope-Leighey house under nightfall at our final Wright at Twilight for 2023!

Information and tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/3demme62

11/13/2023

Calling all artists! Registration is NOW OPEN for Woodlawn's 61st Annual Needlework Show happening in March 2024. You can follow the link here: https://woodlawnpopeleighey.wufoo.com/forms/zcfdii21luqkyw/

If you have any problems with the entry form, please contact us at [email protected] or 703-570-6913.

Background artwork is courtesy of Nina & Sonya Montenegro from their piece 'Mending Life'.

11/08/2023

This past Saturday, it was standing room only for Sheryl Sims' presentation on the current special exhibition at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House: Story Quilts Inspired by Family and Faith.

Sims' work, which weaves her ancestry and personal history with Woodlawn and the Quaker Meeting House through the artistry of quilt-making, is on display through December 31st.

10/28/2023

Have you had the opportunity to visit our current exhibit? Local artist and storyteller Sheryl Sims explores her heritage, including her enslaved and freed ancestors, and her connection to Woodlawn and Quaker Meeting in 'Story Quilts Inspired by Family and Faith.' The quilts reveal a deeply personal journey of perseverance, resilience and, above all, hope.

All ticketed guests will have the opportunity to experience this exhibit. Non-ticketed guests are also welcome to view this exhibit free of charge (donations encouraged) during our business hours of 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Thursday - Monday. The exhibit runs through December 31, 2023.

10/25/2023

We are approaching peak fall foliage here at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House. Visit the grounds and enjoy the changing autumn colors on our 126 acres or take a tour to learn more about the unique and important history of our site.

Book your tour here: https://tinyurl.com/yz6k9k3v

10/24/2023

Find out more about booking a tour for your group at http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/grouptours

Cortona visited Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House for last weeks Field Trip Friday, we had two very impressive tours, and we loved seeing all the architecture.

10/23/2023

Did you miss our Wright at Twilight event on Friday? You're in luck! Tickets are still available for our November 17th event. This will be our last Wright at Twilight until 2024 so don't miss out on this unique opportunity to visit this local Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece.

Tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/3demme62

10/19/2023

On Saturday, November 4, from 10 AM to 3 PM, join us for free, self-guided tours of the Pope-Leighey House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There will be games and family friendly activities throughout the day as well as light concessions.

The event is free but registration is encouraged. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3fa967mj

10/04/2023

Did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright named his personal homes and studios after the 6th century Welsh bard Taliesin? In the traditional story, Taliesin receives his special gifts of poetry and song by being sprinkled with a magic liquid created by fairies.

Join us this Saturday for our Fairy House Festival at Pope-Leighey House for a celebration of nature and the concept of organic architecture promoted by Frank Lloyd Wright with a whimsical nod to Wright’s Welsh roots.

You'll be able to design and build your own tiny fairy house using materials found in nature. Special activities will take place throughout the day including story times, crafts, and face-painting on the grounds of the Pope-Leighey House, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a small, affordable home that was built in harmony with the nature around it. This event is perfect for children and families, as well as architecture and nature lovers of all ages!

Register here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/woodlawnpopeleighey/items/482997/?full-items=yes&flow=133365

09/30/2023

Starting in October, Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House will be open to the public on Thursdays! Join us for a tour of these two historic houses and discover why these places matter.

09/26/2023

Join us for the Opening Reception of this special exhibit on Monday, October 2nd from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Enjoy light refreshments while getting the first look at these beautiful quilts. Sheryl Sims will be in attendance to answer your questions about her work!

Sheryl Sims is an inspirational artist and powerful storyteller who weaves her stories of family and faith into exquisitely designed quilts you will see on display from October 2 through December 31, 2023, at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House.

With each quilt, Sheryl explores her heritage, including her enslaved and freed ancestors, and her connection to Woodlawn and Quaker Meeting. The quilts reveal a deeply personal journey of perseverance, resilience and, above all, hope.

Attendance is free, donations are appreciated!

You can register here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/woodlawnpopeleighey/items/484893/calendar/2023/10/?flow=34392&language=en-us&full-items=yes

09/15/2023

Did you know that there are three Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Virginia? These architectural masterpieces are a testament to the genius of Wright and his commitment to creating beautiful and functional spaces. The Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria is a classic example of Usonian architecture, a style that Wright developed to be both affordable and distinctly American and it is open to the public for tours and events. The Cooke House is located in Virginia Beach and the Marden House is located in McLean. Both home have recently been listed for sale. Learn more about touring the Pope-Leighey House here https://franklloydwrightsites.com/pope-leighy-house/
Photo Courtesy Lincoln Barbour

09/06/2023

Join us this Saturday, September 9 at 1:00 PM for a conversation with historian Cassandra Good about her book The First Family. The book explores how the outspoken stepgrandchildren of George Washington played an overlooked but important role in the development of American society and politics from the Revolution to the Civil War.

http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/upcomingevents/2023/9/9/cassandra-good-book-talk

Explore 126 acres and two historic houses, Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House

09/01/2023

Starting Today, September 1st, Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House are proud to participate in the Museums For All program, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain reduced admission to Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House. Since the launch of the initiative in 2014, Museums for All has served more than 5 million visitors nationwide at more than 1,000 museums of all varieties, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Visitors can purchase $2 tickets for up to four people to attend Combination Tours of both Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House by simply showing their EBT card and a photo ID at our admissions desk.

For more information or questions, visit our tour information page or write to us at [email protected]

08/30/2023

Are you receiving our monthly email updates for Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House? We have many interesting programs and a new exhibit lined up for the fall. Sign-up for the email newsletter at the link below!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/IKfrmEG

08/28/2023

Are you a local homeschooling family? We are a month out from our fall architecture-themed Homeschool Day!

Discover the architecture and history at two American houses from different centuries. Woodlawn was built in 1805 and designed by William Thornton, one of the architects of the U.S. Capitol building. Pope-Leighey House was designed in 1940 by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Special guided tours of the houses will be available on the hour starting at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM. Hands-on activities will also be included. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy exploring our gardens and grounds. Tickets are $15 per adult, $10 per student (K-12), ages 5 and under are free.

https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/woodlawnpopeleighey/items/482271/?full-items=yes&flow=133365

Address

9000 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA
22309

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17037804000

Website

https://linktr.ee/woodlawnpopeleighey

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Videos

2024 Needlework Show Registration is Now Open

Calling all artists! Registration is NOW OPEN for Woodlawn's 61st Annual Needlework Show happening in March 2024. You can follow the link here: https://woodlawnpopeleighey.wufoo.com/forms/zcfdii21luqkyw/ If you have any problems with the entry form, please contact us at [email protected] or 703-570-6913. Background artwork is courtesy of Nina & Sonya Montenegro from their piece 'Mending Life'.