The Quail Bell Guide to Virginia's Old Plantations

Quick What's and Where's of Commonwealth Estates

By Brianna Duff
QuailBellMagazine.com

So you're thinking of exploring Quail Bell Landia? Come to Virginia and check out a few of these magical plantations:

Arlington House: Paired with the Robert E. Lee Memorial, this home belonged to the famous Civil War general. Location: Arlington

Bacon's Castle: This is one of the few surviving examples of Jacobean architecture in America and dates back to 1665. Location: Surry

Belle Grove Plantation: An old 18th-century grain and livestock farm, Belle Grove once encompassed 7500 acres of land. It was build for Nelly Madison, sister of President James Madison. Location: Middletown

Berkeley Plantation: This was the site of the first Thanksgiving and the birthplace of President William Harrison and Declaration of Independence signer Benjamin Harrison V. Location: Charles City

Endview Plantation: Built in 1769, this house has survived the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Location: Newport News

Evelynton Plantation: This was once the place of Civil War skirmishes in 1862. The original house was burned during the war, but it was rebuilt by relatives two generations later.  Location: Charlottesville

The Maymont Estate

Ferry Farm: Ferry Farm was the principle home of first president George Washington. It was his home until he moved to Mount Vernon. Location: Fredericksburg

Gunston Hall Plantation: This is the former home of George Mason. Location: Mason Neck

Kenmore: Once the home of George Washington's sister, Betty Washington Lewis, this home was originally part of a plantation of almost 1,300 acres. Location: Fredericksburg

Lee Hall Mansion: This is the only large antebellum plantation house remaining on the lower Virginia Peninsula, dating back to 1859. Location: Newport News 

Maymont: Located on the banks of the James, this home and its gardens have been a Richmond landmark since 1886. Location: Richmond

Monticello: The famous home of third president and Declaration writer Thomas Jefferson.
Location: Charlottesville 

The Mount Vernon Estate

Montpelier: The famous home of fourth president James Madison. Location: Orange

Mount Vernon: The famous home of first president George Washington. Location: Mount Vernon

Oatlands: This estate was started in 1804 by George Carter, great-grandson of Virginia's renowned Robert Carter. The estate held a mansion, greenhouse, dairy, smoke house, bank barn, and gardens. Location: Leesburg

Poplar Forest: Another of Jefferson's homes. Location: Lynchburg

Shirley Plantation: Shirley was settled in 1613 and is the oldest plantation in Virginia, not to mention the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating back to 1638. Location: Charles City

Smithfield Plantation: Built on the edge of the frontier wilderness, Smithfield was once the last glimpse of civilization explorers saw before traveling west. Location: Blacksburg

Stratford Hall Plantation: Birthplace of Robert E. Lee and home to Thomas Lee, founder of the Ohio Company and acting Governor of Virginia. Location: Stratford