Explore the ideas and legacy of George Mason, Founding Father and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, at his 18th-century home. to 5:00 p.m.
Gunston Hall was once the center of a 5,500-acre to***co and corn plantation. Its owner, George Mason IV (1725-1792), was a fourth generation Virginian who became a senior statesman and one of the era’s most influential figures. As author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, Mason was among the first to call for such fundamental American liberties as religious toleration and freedom of the press
. Thomas Jefferson once referred to Mason as “a man of the first order of wisdom.”
Today, Gunston Hall is a National Historic Landmark owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and administered by a Board of Regents appointed from The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Hours of public visitation are 9:30 a.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Each visitor will receive a guided tour of the mansion; the 550 acres of grounds and hiking trails are open until 6:00 p.m. A variety of special events are presented throughout the year.
Operating as usual
Thanks to everyone who came to our Cocktails by Candlelight event on 9/23. What a great time - good food, good conversation and 18th-century cocktails ! For those that could not make it...Friday, May 12, 2023 is the next Cocktails by Candlelight.
Guess who stopped by Gunston Hall? TommyMcFly and his cameraman Nick of NBC4 and The Scene. Education Manager Lacey V. demonstrated the 18th-century drink "the flip" using a red hot poker! The drink will be featured on Tommy's The Scene report tonight and at our 9/23 Cocktails by Candlelight event! For more information: https://gunstonhall.org/events/cocktails-by-candlelight-3/
7 days and counting until Cocktails by Candlelight on Friday, September 23, 6 - 9pm !
We cannot wait to have you join us for period cocktails and historic foods. This event is the perfect opportunity to gather and relax with friends and loved ones. Participants must be 21 or older. Get your tickets today at: https://gunstonhall.org/events/cocktails-by-candlelight-3/
Sip on period cocktails and sample historic foods. Situated in the heart of the historic property, this event offers the perfect opportunity to relax with friends and loved ones. Plus,...
Look how far we’ve come! From our budding spring bulbs to the profusion of perennial blooms and produce, Mother Nature has worked her magic on the Riverside Garden this season. Our horticulturist Kristen and her dedicated crew of volunteers have worked tirelessly to maintain and expand the restoration of what we know to be one of George Mason’s favorite places to spend his time. We think he would be proud of how much they have accomplished.
Both George Mason and his son John shared a passion for pets. While John was in France, his father wrote to him about sending tame birds and deer overseas. However, their shared passion was perhaps greatest for horses, including George Mason’s racehorse, Vulcan. The Gunston Hall collection includes a set of silver spurs, bearing an engraving of G Mason/ 1750, the date of George Mason’s marriage to Ann. The engraving appears to have been added later. No matter if this was George’s spur that passed to his son John, or a spur John or his descendants engraved to honor their famous forebearer, it remains as a physical reminder of George and John’s shared love of animals.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, some people who had homes in Virginia were abroad. The leaders of the newly independent government of Virginia wondered: should these people be considered citizens of the Commonwealth?
In 1779, a committee of the House of Delegates, including George Mason, determined that “those inhabitants of this State, who were beyond sea at the commencement of hostilities at Lexington, and have not… adhered to the public enemy, ought still to be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth, and permitted to return.” With that, any Virginia resident who supported American independence was a citizen. The committee set the standard that loyalty is at the heart of what defines a citizen, and not where they happened to be standing when the war began.
Read the full document here: https://www.consource.org/document/resolutions-for-clarifying-the-status-of-citizens-and-aliens-and-for-selling-the-estates-of-enemy-aliens-1779-6-4/
Every year, Gunston Hall has the amazing opportunity to welcome citizenship candidates to our site for the final step in a long process. We look forward to welcoming the latest group of candidates and their families on September 17 for a naturalization ceremony. We hope you can join us too.
Save the date for The Museum Shop’s annual holiday open house event on Friday November 4th from 1 - 5:30 p.m. Receive 20% off your entire purchase and complimentary gift wrapping, all while nibbling and sipping on light refreshments. No RSVP required, but if you wish to schedule a private or virtual shopping time, please reach out to Nicole at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you and a friend at this festive event!
Starting in the 1770s, George Mason used the word citizens to refer to “inhabitants of this State." We’ve pulled together every instance we can find into this word cloud. Over the course of the month, we look forward to digging into the ways Mason talked about citizenship in his speeches and writing.
The weather is cooling off and the leaves are beginning to change on Mason Neck. Join us in welcoming the fall weather and look for more snapshots of the leaves in their full glory next month.
From the earliest years of independence, Mason believed in an opportunity for naturalization. In 1779, George Mason and his contemporaries suggested laws be written to address “who shall be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth, and for naturalizing foreigners.”
We are excited that we are able to host naturalization ceremonies at Mason’s home. Check out these images from ceremonies we’ve held over the years on the lawn in front of the Mansion.
September 17 is Constitution Day AND Citizenship Day. Watch this space this month for information about citizenship in the 18th century and George Mason’s words about the topic. We’ll also be sharing information about our upcoming naturalization ceremony!
George Mason refused to sign the U.S. Constitution, in part, because it did not include a Bill of Rights. This struggle over including the Bill of Rights would eventually damage his lifelong friendship with his neighbor, George Washington.
Mason’s sacrifices and courageous stand for his beliefs make Gunston Hall a true Home of American Rights. Donor support enables us to continue to share the ideas that were so important to Mason. . Consider a donation today in honor of George Mason’s efforts to put into law protections for the liberties we value today!
It’s back! Cocktails by Candlelight is on Friday, September 23, 6-9 p.m. We can’t wait to have you join us for drinks, conversation, and some history. Get your tickets today at www.gunstonhall.org.
Harvest day in the garden is always satisfying. It is when we literally pick the "fruits" of our labors. This week, we were thrilled to donate a trunkload of fresh produce to our neighbors at the Lorton Community Action Center.
An aging George Mason appears to have had some challenges doing his , as his eyes weren’t what they once had been. In his late 40s or 50s, George started wearing glasses. They may have been selected for him by his son, George, Jr. In a letter to the younger George, he stated, “the Spectacles suit me as exactly as if I had chosen them myself, and have enabled me to read & write with much more Ease. . .”
Did George request the glasses, or was it something his son recommended? Hmm. We wonder what level of magnification he needed! Was George at +1.5? +2.75?
With plenty of woods and open fields around us, we often spot creatures great and small. Last weekend, alone, we glimpsed eagles, osprey, bluebirds, frogs, lizards, and this mobile box turtle.
Warm, creamy chocolate desserts: yum! got us wondering whether people in the 18th century enjoyed something similar. We came across, instead, a recipe for a chocolaty drink called chocolate-cream: “TAKE a Quarter of a Pound of Chocolate, breaking it into a Quarter of a Pint of boiling Water; mill it and boil it, ’till all the Chocolate is dissolv’d; then put to it a Pint of Cream and two Eggs well-beaten; let it boil, milling it all the while; when it is cold, mill it again, that it may go up with a Froth.” Let us know if you try it. We’d love to see pictures and to hear your review.
Today is our last of 2022. We hope you’ve discovered some new ideas, tasted food from the past, or learned a new skill. We look forward to another exciting summer of learning with you next year.
This we consider George Mason’s intentions when he drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights and Virginia constitution. In neither document does he refer to women. In both, he talks about “men” and the “people.” Did George deliberately exclude women from these documents? Did it not occur to him that he might include women? Perhaps he thought that the “people” sometimes included women? Whatever the case, we know that some writers and thinkers in the eighteenth century were deeply concerned with the roles of women. While touring the historic mansion, you might see reproductions of some of their texts.
We do not know if George Mason read these books or what he thought of them, but we do know that women’s rights were severely limited in early America. In the last two and a half centuries, laws, constitutional amendments, and court rulings have brought more clarity. Today, we strive for a society where the rights listed by George apply equally to women and men.
George Mason’s reading list at age 17 included John Locke’s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. We are so lucky to have this edition which was signed and dated by George in 1742.
The book likely influenced George’s ideas of self-government and voluntary citizen participation. First published in 1689, Locke is known for his remarks on social contracts: “A citizen. . .is one who has a right to certain privileges in this or that place.” Social contracts exist when citizens “voluntar[ily]” agree to laws on protection of their rights. A young Mason took these words to heart and remembered them years later when he urged separating with the British government over what he saw was a breaking of this social contract.
Locke’s writings were so influential that they contributed to the founding of a nation 100 years after their publication. George Mason’s copy of this book reminds us that he and others crafted a new system of government that relied on the consent of the governed and voluntary participation of individual citizens.
From their history books to real life!
A membership at Gunston Hall can help your kids explore the American history they may have read about this summer or are learning about this school year. Use your membership to visit any general admission day and to get discounts for events like Revolutionary War Day on November 5th.
One of the amazing benefits of getting married at Gunston Hall is the opportunity for the bridal couple to take pictures inside the historic home. Helen and Ben tied the knot at Gunston Hall in May. We adore these pictures, and hope they inspire you and your photographer.
To learn more about our rental packages and ways to make your wedding one for the history books, contact Nicole at [email protected]
Photo Credit: .lu.studios
Even though many students have already gone back to school, we’re not quite ready to let summer go just yet at Gunston Hall. Join us on Saturday for our final Summer Saturday and a chance to explore some 18th-century games.
Gunston Hall is hiring a Full-time Sales and Rental Associate to join our museum shop and facility rental department. To learn more about this exciting new opportunity, visit: https://gunstonhall.org/support/join-our-team/employment-opportunities/
To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume to Nicole Ryan, Leader of Business Enterprise, at [email protected]
Many of the books George Mason read, or wrote in, were account books. This brief letter to Martin Cockburn suggests that the two of them may have been asked to hand over a series of accounts and papers to a Mr. Barnes. George commented, “I think it wrong to part with any of the Books out of our Possession.”
This makes us curious about what was in these books. What thoughts or ideas do you have?
We love our Summer Squash! This variety is known as patty pan or cymling, and used in a variety of 18th-century recipes. Growing these historic crops helps us tell stories of both the Masons and those who were enslaved who used this squash in their meals.
This weekend’s Summer Saturday is all about condiments, but we’re not thinking about ketchup, mustard, and relish. Instead, we’re digging a little deeper into our historic recipes, and we’ll have Tomato Marmalade and Pepper Vinegar on the menu. Join us to taste these oddities on Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Some of our has included historic cookbooks. We love The Virginia Housewife, and have been exploring it for some recipes to use with the produce from our garden. We were excited to find “Pepper Vinegar.” This spicy condiment could be used on its own or as an ingredient in another condiment. Join us this Saturday to get a taste.
This we're boggled at how young George Mason was when he first acquired a copy of John Locke's An Essay on Human Understanding. In the image above, you can see where he signed his name and scribed the date "1742." George was just 17 years old when this book came into his possession.
Keep an eye out for this month's for more details on the contents of this historic book.
Gunston Hall is honored and proud to host military promotion and retirement ceremony events. To learn more about our military rental packages and ways we can make your special day one for the history books, contact Nicole at [email protected] or at (703)550-9220.
This Saturday is your last chance this summer to get your hands on artifacts we’ve uncovered at Gunston Hall! We’ll be on the grounds from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 13, discovering what the things we find under the earth can tell us.
New merchandise alert in the museum shop!
Go greener by grabbing a George Mason’s Gunston Hall reusable water bottle. These durable Tritan material bottles are impact- and shatter- proof with an easy carry handle. What’s even better: Gunston Hall now has water bottle filling stations available when you visit.
To purchase a bottle, visit the museum shop daily from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or by visiting the Shop link in our bio.
In the summer of 1787, George Mason had no time for anything like a . Instead, he and his compatriots were reading over, discussing, and modifying what would become the Constitution of the United States of America. Mason was aware of how important this work was, writing to his son, “The eyes of the United States are turned upon this assembly, and their expectations raised to a very anxious degree.”
Writing the Constitution took the entire summer. We don’t know if Mason wanted to read something for pleasure, but given the hard, long, hot Philadelphia summer, he might have wished he had the time.
! We’ve been spotting wildlife all throughout the grounds this summer. What did you spot on your visit? Share with us!
The weather may be a little iffy, but Summer Saturday is still underway. Join us from now until 4 p.m. to learn more about gardening in the 18th century.
It’s never too early to start planning your holiday greeting cards, holiday work party, or just a festive get together with family and friends! Reach out to Nicole at [email protected] to learn more about our holiday venue options and professional photo shoot packages on our grounds.
We can’t wait to share our garden-themed Summer Saturday with you. We’ll have cut flowers from the garden for you to handle and arrange, seeds to save, and historic characters to meet! Join us this Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The gardens are loving the sunshine! Our horticulturist, Kristin, has been hard at work with summer produce and prepping for our fall crops. She’s growing basil, kale, parsley, peppers, squash, and so much more.
Feeling snacky? Today’s program is for you! Join us in the kitchen for Summer Saturday. From now to 4 p.m. we will be making parmesan ice cream and other 18th-century foods.
George Mason drafted this speech while at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It is written on the back of a proposed resolution on Congressional appointments and term limits. In this speech, George contrasts the new American government to the European governments that existed at the time.
George urges his fellow members of the Constitutional Congress to consider the “peculiar circumstances, situation, character and genius of the people of America, differing materially from that of any other nation” and to create a system of government that would represent the people, rather than the states. For this reason, Mason argued for representatives to be elected directly by the people, rather than by State legislatures, as some other members of the Constitutional Convention favored. This was revolutionary. Not only was this approach different from that of European governments, it was also a departure from the system under the previous American Articles of Confederation, which the new U.S. Constitution replaced.
We are so ready for beets this weekend! They’ve been maturing in the garden, and now is the time to harvest. You can get a taste of these fresh root vegetables this weekend in an unusual 18th century recipe: pink pancakes.
Come out to Gunston Hall on Saturday for our food-themed Summer Saturday. Don’t forget to taste the pancakes!
Toward the end of his life, George Mason’s ability to walk was severely impacted by gout, a buildup of uric acid crystals in his joints. He wrote to his son John in January 1792, January 1792, “[I] am now able to walk about the House; tho’ still a little lame. [. . .] It has proved to be a pretty severe Fit, tho’ a regular one, and remained confined to one of my Feet.” This disability pride month, Gunston Hall recognizes some of the ways that people in the 18th century, including George Mason, experienced disability and illness in their lives.
In a letter to a Mr. Brent in 1778, George Mason shared his feelings about the ongoing Revolutionary War. He was dedicated to its cause. To George, the effort to create a new country meant safeguards against corruption in government and protections of the rights of citizens. George put his money to the test, providing goods to the Continental Army and Virginia militia. He also gave staunch support to the war effort by serving in the Virginia legislature, often taking to the floor resolutions to better arm, pay, and otherwise care for American soldiers.
The fountain in our courtyard has become a tadpole nursery! Staff have watched for weeks as the tadpoles have emerged and grown. Lately, some have developed legs. Eventually, those tadpoles that make it to adulthood will become tree frogs. Look carefully in the photo of the tadpoles. Try to find the tiny legs growing on the largest tadpoles. The fully grown tree frog has graduated from the fountain to the rest of the courtyard.
Haven’t visited Gunston Hall lately? Come see us. Every trip offers a chance to discover the variety of wildlife on Mason Neck.
Not all of Mason’s revolutionary ideas were well-received. At the Constitutional Convention, Mason briefly advocated for the executive branch to be made up of a council of three people. He may have been inspired by the First and Second Triumvirates of Roman history, as he drew many of his ideas from his study of that ancient republic.
Mason’s fellow delegates were not convinced. The executive branch eventually became the presidency and vice-presidency. For his part, Mason let the triumvirate idea go and focused on other matters, perhaps recognizing that this was one idea that wasn’t going very far.
10709 Gunston Road
Lorton, VA
22079
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| Tuesday | 9:30am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am - 5pm |
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At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, some people who had homes in Virginia were abroad. The leaders of the newly independent government of Virginia wondered: should these people be considered citizens of the Commonwealth? In 1779, a committee of the House of Delegates, including George Mason, determined that “those inhabitants of this State, who were beyond sea at the commencement of hostilities at Lexington, and have not… adhered to the public enemy, ought still to be deemed citizens of this Commonwealth, and permitted to return.” With that, any Virginia resident who supported American independence was a citizen. The committee set the standard that loyalty is at the heart of what defines a citizen, and not where they happened to be standing when the war began. Read the full document here: https://www.consource.org/document/resolutions-for-clarifying-the-status-of-citizens-and-aliens-and-for-selling-the-estates-of-enemy-aliens-1779-6-4/
With plenty of woods and open fields around us, we often spot creatures great and small. Last weekend, alone, we glimpsed eagles, osprey, bluebirds, frogs, lizards, and this mobile box turtle.
With plenty of woods and open fields around us, we often spot creatures great and small. Last weekend, alone, we glimpsed eagles, osprey, bluebirds, frogs, lizards, and this mobile box turtle.
With plenty of woods and open fields around us, we often spot creatures great and small. Last weekend, alone, we glimpsed eagles, osprey, bluebirds, frogs, lizards, and this mobile box turtle.
Cocktails by Candlelight returns on May 13. Get your tickets now for a grown up evening of 18th-century-style food, drink, and games. Plus, don’t miss the “candlelit” tours of the mansion.
The Gunston Hall private rental program is proud to work with many strong, passionate, and dedicated woman-owned businesses in the Northern Virginia area. Reach out to Nicole Ryan, our female Leader of Business Enterprise, to learn more about these great vendors and about our rental package offerings:[email protected] #WeddingWednesday #WomensHistoryMonth
Gunston Hall was a sanctuary for George Mason. During the Revolution, life could be uncertain and troubling. Hard at work in Williamsburg in the spring of 1776, George Mason wrote to George Washington that he yearned for time to enjoy the “sweets of domestic life” at home. Always a homebody, Mason found this particularly turbulent year of revolution and separation from his family to be tough. He longed for the tranquility of home and family. Read the full letter here: https://www.consource.org/document/george-mason-to-george-washington-1776-4-2/ #MasonMonday #Home
If you are looking to stock up on ornaments, tea towels, napkins, and other great seasonal decor for next year, the Museum Shop holiday merchandise is 30% in person and now online until the New Year. Visit daily through New Year’s Eve from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. or 24/7 at www.gunstonhall.org/shop
You might know that Champagne and Chocolates, our annual Valentine’s Day fundraiser supports upcoming projects at Gunston Hall. This year, the proceeds will help launch the conceptual design of our East Yard project, the location of one of the communities of enslaved people at Gunston Hall. Your ticket purchase will contribute to revitalizing a critically important part of the Gunston Hall story. We look forward to seeing you at the event. Purchase your tickets at: https://gunston-hall-docent-association.square.site/
Thank you for helping us exceed our $3000 goal for #GivingTuesday!
As December begins, we have already felt its cold weather move in. The historic house is full of features meant to accommodate the Virginia seasons. But George Mason and his family endured cold, harsh winters with far less technology available to stay warm than we have today. Still, the Masons were fortunate to have more fireplaces than most dwellings at the time. The eight fireplaces added heat to both the first and second floors. The doors in the house were also set at an angle, so they trapped in heat when they were shut. #ItsCold #WinterWeather #KeepingWarm
We'd like to take a moment on this #GivingTuesday to say: Thank you Every contribution enriches all of the things we do at Gunston Hall.
We love our donors, so we’re taking a moment to let you hear from one of them in her own words. #Support #GunstonHall #WhyIGive
Join us to explore a letter George Mason wrote in May 1783!
Join us as we learn more about Chinese influences on British-American art with Dr. Stacey Sloboda.
The Gunston Hall dining room was originally decorated with wallpaper. We reproduced what might have covered the walls by painstakingly copying an 18th-century English chinoiserie wallpaper from Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. The bird-and-flower design is a frequent motif of such Chinese-inspired wallpaper. Find out more about the art of chinoiserie on Wednesday at 10:30 am during One House, Many Stories: Chinese Connections, and come see the gorgeous wallpaper in the mansion! Register Here - https://bit.ly/3uAt1Wf #AAPIMonth #OneHouseManyStories #historicgunstonhall #history #chinoiserie
Gunston Hall is excited to highlight the often overlooked influence of Asia in 18th-century America in our next FB Live session, One House, Many Stories: Chinese Connections. Along with Dr. Stacey Sloboda, we’ll explore how Chinese art inspired a style called chinoiserie. George and Ann Mason selected this style for their dining room, leaving us with a unique American example in this design. Join us on Wednesday, May 12, at 10:30 for a conversation exploring Gunston Hall’s intriguing connection with China. Register Here - https://bit.ly/3uAt1Wf #AAPIMonth #OneHouseManyStories #historicgunstonhall #history #chinoiserie
Join Gunston Hall and Albemarle CiderWorks for a cider tasting 18th Century style!
Join us for our last session of Something Different in the Garden. This episode we're talking with Brenda Parker of Mount Vernon about how enslaved men and women used their gardens to create a meal.
Join us for our discussion with Ira Wallace of Southern Seed Exposure, and Peggy Cornett of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
Join us for our conversation with Chef Dave Smoke McCluskey and Stephen Smith, of Roughwood Table, for our second episode of Something Different in the Garden.
Join us for the first session of Something Different in the Garden! We're joined by Adria Bordas of the Cooperative Extension and Dean Norton of Mount Vernon.
Join us for the last session of Dissent Made Material!
Presidents receive many gifts throughout their tenure. Citizens use these gifts to send a message, often one of appreciation or approval. Some of them are elegant and professionally made. Others, like the ones will be exploring with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during Dissent Made Material, are handcrafted. Join us in exploring some of the rare hand-made messages of disagreement Ronald Reagan received during his presidency.
In this episode of Collecting Rights, Gunston Hall invites staff from Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library and a fellow from the University of Delaware Program in American Material Culture to uncover the rights of women whose history is often hidden. We’ll join them virtually as they delve into their virtual exhibit, Re-Presenting Black Womanhood.
In this session, we are joined by quilt historian Barbara Brackman and look at a variety of early-19th-century needlework designed to raise money and increase awareness of the antislavery cause in England, America and Africa. We’ll look at women’s work from pincushions to patchwork quilts with the theme: “May the Points of Our Needles Prick the Slaveholders Conscience.”
In this session, join Gunston Hall and Johanna Brown (Curator of Moravian Decorative Arts) from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) and Old Salem for our first of four decorative arts symposium sessions. During this 45-minute session, discover how 18th-century Moravians (members of a religious sect) used material culture to set themselves apart from others and show their faith.
If you love a good sale, then check out our online shop at www.gunstonhall.org/shop for some great deals on holiday ornaments, food products, and an assortment of other great home and gift decor finds. The online sale goes through January 7, 2021. Reminder: the shop will be closed from January 1 - 15 while we conduct inventory and spruce up displays for the upcoming spring season.
From all of us at Gunston Hall, we wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. Thank you for all of your support this year! ❤️
Join George Mason's Gunston Hall and the Library of Virginia for this special program featuring George Mason's handwritten copy of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
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