Updated on November 7, 2023 by Julie McCool
Explore the history and beauty of Gunston Hall, and learn about George Mason's lasting impact on Virginia and the beginnings of our American democracy. A guided tour of the mansion and reconstructed outbuildings offer a fascinating look at Georgian architecture and early American history. Visitors can also explore 550 acres of grounds and hiking trails on this expansive estate.
What is Gunston Hall?
Gunston Hall was the family home of George Mason IV, a prominent historical figure in Northern Virginia. He is not as well known as George Washington and Robert E. Lee but was very important to America's birth. Gunston Hall was built for Mason between 1755 and 1759 and is a wonderful example of Georgian architecture.
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George Mason was a fourth-generation Virginian who became a senior statesman and author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. He was among the first to call for fundamental American liberties like religious tolerance and freedom of the press. These ideals became the foundation of the United States Bill of Rights.
Touring the Mansion and Grounds
A tour of the mansion reveals a wealth of popular Georgian interior designs. Tours highlight the symmetrical Central Passage, simple “Virginia Neat and Plain” Parlor, elaborately carved Palladian Room, and colorful Chinese Room.
Begin at the Visitor Center, where a film and exhibits introduce George Mason. Here you learn about Mason's impact on the Virginia and US government, and his personal life in the 18th century.
Outside you'll follow a long pathway to the mansion, providing an impressive introduction to Gunston Hall's lovely grounds. The Carriage Way was once flanked by radiating lines of cherry trees. Today, large magnolias shade the approach.
In Mason's time, visitors approached the mansion on this 12-foot wide carriage road. The carriageway, front portico, central hall, rear portico, and rear pathway, were all 12 feet wide, creating a central axis through the heart of the property.
Inside the mansion, restored rooms are decorated to recreate the original home, and include many original items from Mason's time. The hall, or “Central Passage,” was used to welcome and entertain guests, and features pillar and arch wallpaper.
Symmetry was an important design ideal in Georgian architecture. The entry hall even includes a false door, placed to mirror a working door on the opposite wall.
Our favorite interior detail was the incredible carving on the fireplace wall and around the doors in the Palladian Room.
The neighboring Chinese Room functioned as a formal dining room. Here, George Mason dined with friends and colleagues including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
Across the hall, in George Mason's study, is the original desk where he penned the Virginia Declaration of Rights. That declaration is the model for the United States Bill of Rights.
Next door is Mason's master bedroom, once the heart of the domestic management of the plantation. The rich green verdigris walls and trim stand in contrast to the simpler furnishings in the room.
Back in the hall, ask your guide for a demonstration of the clever ladder which could be unfolded for use, then stored in a space-saving pole shape.
There were nine children in the Mason family, and their more modest bedrooms are upstairs. House servants climbed a tightly curved staircase to move between the basement and other floors of the mansion.
Gunston Hall Grounds and Outbuildings
Outside the mansion, visitors can see several reconstructed outbuildings including a kitchen, dairy, laundry, and smokehouse. Behind the mansion, a walkway leads to a view of the Potomac River. Marked hiking trails allow you to explore the fields and woodlands that surround the mansion.
If time allows, walk through the Boxwood Allee behind the mansion. The boxwoods were planted during George Mason's time, and their lovely, twisted trunks continue to mark the path from the house to a river overlook.
The 1.7-mile River Trail passes through the woods and down a steep hill to a rocky beach. From here you can look across Gunston Cove and the Potomac River to the Maryland shore.
As you make your way back to the Visitor Center, stop to view the schoolhouse and visit Mason's family burying ground. Here Mason erected a tomb for his beloved wife. Ann Eilbeck Mason was only 39 when she died. Mason's matching tomb was added in 1961.
There are hiking trails around the perimeter of the grounds and down to the river, which we intend to visit when cooler fall weather arrives.
Explore more with our guide 20 Must-See Northern Virginia Hidden Gems Rich in Nature and History.
George Mason and the Virginia Declaration of Rights
Mason was an active leader and participant in the colonies' efforts to push back against British control. In 1774, Mason wrote the Fairfax County Resolves with George Washington and others. The Resolves lists the colonies' grievances and actions to be taken against British aggression.
Two years later Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, defining many of the ideals that were incorporated into the US Bill of Rights. These excerpts from Mason's Articles will sound familiar to anyone who has studied the Bill of Rights:
- “all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights… namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”
- “all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people”
- “in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man hath a right… to be confronted with the accusers and witnesses, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage…”
- “excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
- “That the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.”
Despite his dedication to these ideals of liberty, George Mason was also a slaveholder. In his writings, he expressed an intense dislike and disapproval of the institution of slavery, but he did not free his own slaves even at his death.
When to Visit Gunston Hall and Visitor Tips
Gunston Hall is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, with guided tours every half-hour from 9:30 to 4:30. There are two ticket options.
- General Admission tickets are $10/$8/$5 for adults/seniors/children 6 – 15. This includes a guided tour of the grounds and house plus access to the Visitor Center exhibit and grounds.
- Or purchase a Grounds Pass for $5 to hike the trails and visit the garden and outbuildings.
- Children under 5 are free.
The Visitor Center and first floor of the mansion are wheelchair accessible. The garden and grounds around the mansion are flat with gravel and hard surface paths.
Allow at least an hour for your visit, longer if you attend one of the special events held throughout the year. For example, Revolutionary War Weekends offer an engaging look at the life of 18th-century soldiers and civilians. Every September, Gunston Hall hosts Constitution Day, a celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
Things to Do Near Gunston Hall
The Mason Neck Peninsula is home to excellent hiking and biking trails in and around Mason Neck State Park. There are also several places to rent kayaks or launch your own boat to explore the waterways. Plan your visit with these guides:
- Mason Neck State Park: Nature and Outdoor Fun in Northern Virginia
- Hiking and Eagles on the Mason Neck Peninsula in Northern Virginia
- 15 Northern Virginia Bike Trails for Paved / Mountain Biking Near DC
- Northern Virginia Boating and Fun on the Water
- Historic Homes of Virginia Share Lives That Shaped America
Gunston Hall is a beautifully restored mansion with fascinating ties to the beginnings of US Independence. Get a closer look at some of its features in this short video from our friends at Visit Fairfax.
"Julie McCool, ""Kuchunguza historia na uzuri wa Gunston Hall, na kujifunza juu ya athari ya kudumu ya George Mason juu ya Virginia na mwanzo wa demokrasia yetu ya Amerika.""" Ziara inayoongozwa na mwongozo ya jumba hilo na majengo yaliyojengwa upya hutoa mtazamo wenye kuvutia wa usanifu-ujenzi wa Georgia na historia ya mapema ya Marekani. Wageni wanaweza pia kuchunguza ekari 550 za ardhi na njia za kutembea kwenye mali hii kubwa. Gunston Hall ni nini? Gunston Hall ilikuwa nyumba ya familia ya George Mason IV, mtu mashuhuri wa kihistoria katika Virginia Kaskazini. Yeye hajulikani sana kama George Washington na Robert E. Lee lakini alikuwa muhimu sana kwa kuzaliwa kwa Marekani. Jumba la Gunston lilijengwa kwa ajili ya Mason kati ya 1755 na 1759 na ni mfano mzuri wa usanifu wa Georgia. Ufunuo: Makala hii inaweza kuwa na viungo vya washirika. Tutafanya tume ndogo kutoka kwa viungo hivi ikiwa utaagiza kitu, bila gharama ya ziada kwako. George Mason alikuwa wa kizazi cha nne cha Virginia ambaye akawa mwanasiasa mwandamizi na mwandishi wa Azimio la Haki za Virginia. Alikuwa miongoni mwa wa kwanza kutaka uhuru wa msingi wa Marekani kama vile uvumilivu wa kidini na uhuru wa vyombo vya habari. Maadili hayo yakawa msingi wa Katiba ya Haki za Kibinadamu ya Marekani. Kutembelea Jumba la Kifahari na Maeneo Yake Ziara ya jumba hilo la kifahari hufunua mambo mengi ya ndani ya Georgia. Ziara hizo huonyesha Njia ya Kati iliyo sawa, Chumba cha kawaida cha "Virginia Neat and Plain", Chumba cha Palladian kilichochongwa kwa ustadi, na Chumba cha Kichina chenye rangi nyingi. Anza katika Kituo cha Wageni, ambako filamu na maonyesho huanzisha George Mason. Katika kitabu hiki, Mason anaelezea jinsi serikali ya Virginia ilivyoshughulika na masuala ya kisiasa na kisiasa katika karne ya 18. Nje utafuata njia ndefu hadi kwenye jumba hilo, na kupata mandhari maridadi ya Gunston Hall. Wakati mmoja Barabara ya Magari ilikuwa imezungukwa na miti ya cherry. Leo, maua makubwa ya magnolia hufunika njia ya kufika. Wakati wa Mason, wageni walikaribia jumba hilo la kifahari kupitia barabara hii yenye upana wa futi 12. Njia ya gari, portico ya mbele, ukumbi wa kati, portico ya nyuma, na njia ya nyuma, zote zilikuwa na upana wa futi 12, na kuunda mhimili wa kati kupitia moyo wa mali. Ndani ya jumba hilo, vyumba vilivyorudishwa vimepambwa ili kuunda upya nyumba ya awali, na vinatia ndani vitu vingi vya awali kutoka wakati wa Mason. Jumba hilo, au "Kituo cha Kati", lilitumiwa kuwakaribisha na kuwakaribisha wageni, na lina nguzo na karatasi ya ukuta. Ulinganifu ulikuwa mradi muhimu wa kubuni katika usanifu-ujenzi wa Georgia. Jumba la kuingia hata lina mlango bandia, uliowekwa ili kuiga mlango unaofanya kazi kwenye ukuta ulio kinyume. Sehemu ya ndani iliyopendwa zaidi ilikuwa ukumbi wa Palladian. Chumba cha Wachina kilichokuwa karibu kilitumiwa kama chumba cha kula. Hapa, George Mason alikula chakula cha jioni pamoja na marafiki na wafanyakazi wenzake kutia ndani George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, na James Madison. Katika chumba cha George Mason, kuna dawati la awali ambapo aliandika Azimio la Haki za Virginia. Taarifa hiyo ndiyo iliyokuwa kielelezo cha Katiba ya Haki za Kibinadamu ya Marekani. Mlango ulio karibu ni chumba cha kulala cha Mason, ambacho wakati mmoja kilikuwa kitovu cha usimamizi wa mashamba. Kuta na mapambo ya kijani kibichi yanatofautiana na fanicha sahili za chumba hicho. Katika ukumbi, uliza mwongozo wako kwa maonyesho ya ngazi ya akili ambayo inaweza kufunguliwa kwa ajili ya matumizi, kisha kuhifadhiwa katika nafasi-kuokoa pole umbo. Kulikuwa na watoto tisa katika familia ya Mason, na vyumba vyao vya kulala vya hali ya chini viko juu. Watumishi wa nyumba walipanda ngazi yenye umbo la mviringo ili kuhamia kati ya ghorofa ya chini ya ardhi na ghorofa nyingine za jumba hilo. Gunston Hall Grounds na Outbuildings Nje ya jumba la kifalme, wageni wanaweza kuona kadhaa kujengwa upya outbuildings ikiwa ni pamoja na jikoni, maziwa, laundry, na smokehouse. Nyuma ya jumba hilo, kuna njia ya kutembea inayoongoza kwenye Mto Potomac. Njia za kutembea zenye alama hukuruhusu kuchunguza mashamba na misitu inayozunguka jumba hilo kubwa. Ikiwa wakati unaruhusu, tembea kupitia Boxwood Allee nyuma ya jumba hilo kubwa. Miti hiyo ilipandwa wakati wa utawala wa George Mason, na miti hiyo yenye umbo la mviringo inaendelea kuonekana kutoka kwenye nyumba hadi kwenye mto. Njia ya Mto ya maili 1.7 hupita kupitia misitu na kushuka mlima mkali hadi pwani ya miamba. Kutoka hapa unaweza kutazama ng'ambo ya Gunston Cove na Mto Potomac hadi pwani ya Maryland. Unapokuwa ukirudi kwenye kituo cha wageni, simama ili kutazama shule na kutembelea makaburi ya familia ya Mason. Hapa Mason aliweka kaburi kwa ajili ya mke wake mpendwa. Ann Eilbeck Mason alikuwa na umri wa miaka 39 tu alipokufa. Makaburi ya Mason yaliongezwa mwaka 1961. Kuna njia za kutembea kuzunguka eneo hilo na chini hadi kwenye mto, ambao tunakusudia kutembelea wakati hali ya hewa ya majira ya kupumzika inapofika. Kujifunza zaidi kuhusu Miongozo yetu ya 20 ya Lazima Uone Virginia Kaskazini ya siri ya Rich katika Asili na Historia George Mason na Azimio la Haki za Virginia Mason alikuwa kiongozi hai na mshiriki katika juhudi za makoloni za kushinikiza nyuma dhidi ya udhibiti wa Uingereza. Mwaka 1774 Mason aliandika Fairfax County Resolves pamoja na George Washington na wengine. The Resolves inaorodhesha malalamiko ya makoloni na hatua za kuchukuliwa dhidi ya uvamizi wa Uingereza. Mwaka wa 1920, Mason aliandika Azimio la Haki za Virginia, na kuanzisha sheria za kisheria za Marekani. "Hii ni sehemu ya Sheria ya Haki za Binadamu: ""Watu wote ni wa asili sawa na huru, na wana haki fulani za asili, yaani, kufurahia maisha na uhuru, na njia za kupata na kumiliki mali, na kufuatilia na kupata furaha na usalama; nguvu zote zinapatikana katika, na kwa hivyo zinatokana na, watu; katika mashtaka yote ya kifedha au ya jinai, mtu ana haki ya kukabiliwa na washtakiwa na mashahidi, kuomba ushahidi kwa niaba yake, na kwa kesi ya haraka na mahakama isiyo na upendeleo wa jirani yake." Katika maandishi yake, alionyesha chuki kubwa na kutokubaliwa kwa taasisi ya utumwa, lakini hakuwaweka huru watumwa wake mwenyewe hata alipokufa. Gunston Hall ni wazi kila siku isipokuwa Shukrani, Krismasi, na Siku ya Mwaka Mpya, na ziara za kuongozwa kila nusu saa kutoka 9:30 hadi 4:30. Kuna chaguzi mbili za tiketi. - Tiketi ya kuingia kwa jumla ni $ 10 $ 8 $ 5 kwa watu wazima, wazee, watoto 6 <unk> 15. Hii inajumuisha ziara iliyoongozwa ya misingi na nyumba pamoja na upatikanaji wa maonyesho ya Kituo cha Wageni na misingi. Pia, unaweza kununua Pass ya Uwanja kwa $ 5 ili kutembea kwenye njia na kutembelea bustani na majengo ya nje. Watoto chini ya miaka mitano ni bure. Kituo cha Wageni na ghorofa ya kwanza ya jumba hilo la kifahari ni mahali panapopatikana kwa ajili ya watu wanaotumia viti vya magurudumu. Bustani na mashamba yanayozunguka jumba hilo ni tambarare na kuna vijia vyenye mchanga na vilivyo ngumu. Weka angalau saa moja kwa ziara yako, zaidi ikiwa unahudhuria moja ya matukio maalum yaliyofanyika mwaka mzima. Kwa mfano, Vita vya Mapinduzi vya Vita vya mwisho wa wiki hutoa mtazamo wa kuvutia juu ya maisha ya askari na raia wa karne ya 18. Kila Septemba, Gunston Hall inakaribisha Siku ya Katiba, sherehe ya kusainiwa kwa Katiba ya Marekani. Mambo ya Kufanya Karibu na Gunston Hall Peninsula ya Mason Neck ni nyumbani kwa njia bora za kutembea na baiskeli ndani na karibu na Hifadhi ya Jimbo la Mason Neck. Pia kuna mahali kadhaa pa kukodisha kayak au kuzindua mashua yako mwenyewe ili kuchunguza njia za maji. Hifadhi ya Jimbo la Mason Neck: Asili na Furaha ya nje katika Virginia ya Kaskazini - Hiking na Eagles kwenye Peninsula ya Mason Neck huko Virginia ya Kaskazini - 15 Njia za Baiskeli za Virginia ya Kaskazini kwa Baiskeli ya Mlima iliyojengwa Karibu na DC - Virginia ya Kaskazini - Boating na Furaha kwenye Maji - Nyumba za Kihistoria za Virginia - Shirikisha Maisha ambayo Ilibadilisha Amerika - Jumba la Gunston ni jumba la kifahari lililorudishwa na uhusiano wa kuvutia na mwanzo wa Uhuru wa Marekani. Pata maelezo zaidi juu ya bidhaa hii katika video hii fupi kutoka kwa marafiki wetu katika VisitFairfax.