Stratford Hall

SO well done! Every time we travel, I try to find nearby historical sites to visit. It's that working in museums and having degrees in History thing I've got going. We've visited several plantations and historical houses over the years, so I was expecting the same old same old - looking at rooms in old houses, detached kitchens, etc. etc.This was SO much more. Not only is the property well maintained, historically significant and just downright beautiful, but the audio tours are outstanding!!! You don't have to pay extra for the audio tour after paying your admission. It's free and there are several of them (which you can actually do all at once). There is the main tour, the African American Experience, a Children's Tour as well as tours from the male perspective and the female perspective. OUTSTANDING! And the best part, you can download them to your phone if you wish. They will walk you through it in the visitor's center. And by taking the audio tour, you can do it at your own pace.You will get a map showing each numbered tour stop - then you listen. And the beautiful thing is that you can choose all of the tours and listen to all of the perspectives at that site number. What a fantastic experience!! This is so much better than taking a tour with a guide or a volunteer docent because when you do that, they may miss some things and you don't get everyone's voice that was at that site. If I was still running a historical house, I would suggest this in a heartbeat (and I say that as a former paid tour guide and educational director for several sites you may have been to here in VA, if you are into history and are still reading this review!). I don't know what it cost them to have this produced, but from a visitor's view, it was worth every penny.If you find yourself anywhere near Stratford Hall, GO THERE. It is an experience that everyone in your group will enjoy and get something out of. I can't recommend it enough!

Came for thr wine and oyster festival and it was amazing.Lines were long after 1pm but everything was worth the price of the ticket. You got wine tastings, tours of the houses, and access to food vendors which the oysters that were grilled with jalepeno, bacon, onions, and cheese Everything was fun and delicious

I had previously went here with my kids about 15 years ago and since Tony and I were in the area I decided to stop again. It was very easy to find close to Colonial Beach VA in the same area where other famous people were born and lived Stratford Hall is the birthplace and Childhood home of Robert E Lee in 1807 and his siblings. I am a history major and my dream job was to be a history teacher but I never made it. So, when my kids and nieces & nephew was growing up I dragged them on field trips back in time and they actually LOVED it!!!! As adults now, they tell me it's some of their favorite childhood memories. Stratford Hall is a gorgeous working (still today) Plantation. There is a gorgeous Great House, tons of out buildings and barns. Built in 1730 by Thomas Lee, its still one of the greatest homes ever built in American History.Over 2000 acres spread out along the banks of the Potomac River. Lee Family had various notable descendants born and raised here.Including 2 Signers of the Declaration of Independence : Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee. Also American Revolution War Hero "Light Horse Harry" Lee father of Robert E Lee.The Grounds Pass for $8 per adult and $5 per child gives you access to the property for the hiking trails, public grounds, beach area access and gardens BUT not to the Great House or other buildings.General adult admission tickets for the Driving Tour that is audio to 28 stops is $12 each and $5 per child. This is the one we chose to do today.Currently due to Covid-19 the Great Hall and Buildings are closed. If in the area, I highly recommend you to check it out. Amazing how in 9 years, it will be 300 yrs old!!

Luckily this house already was set with an audio tour, so you can show up, scan your device at markers, and hear the audio descriptions at your own pace and own space. At the visitor's center, there is a museum exhibition, then you cross over a bridge to the next building (a gift shop and the restaurant) and passed that you get to the house.Everything is pretty scenic, and I saw a family with a dog and picnic tables near the house, so this makes for a great park. Even before you get inside the house, there are side storage buildings, kitchen, garden, carriage house, etc. that each have audio bits to explain how the house worked. Once inside, each room is filled with period-accurate items and there are descriptions of how the house was researched and what is originalYou can only go on 2 levels of the house, but there is a lot of things to listen to. There are cottage rentals on site as well and up the road is a grist mill and beach access next to hiking trails. Going to the house site takes a couple of hours, but in nice weather, coming to the property to enjoy nature is great too. Plenty of free parking. I learned a lot here, and the site itself has a lot to offer.

Stratford Hall is a historic house museum in the northern neck of Virginia. It was the plantation house of four generations of the Lee family of Virginia (later with descendants expanding to Maryland and other states). It was the boyhood home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee(1732-1794), and Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797), and it was the birthplace of Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), who was a longtime military officer in the Corps of Engineers in the United States Army, and later General-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army and commanded its Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War (1861-1865).The estate was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, under the care of the National Park Service in the U.S. Department of the Interior.This is not a place you stumble upon by accident; the northern neck of Virginia is not on the way to anywhere. So, you have to come here on purpose. But you can make a day of it and visit other interesting sites such as Washington's birthplace and the spot where union troops caught and killed John Wilkes Booth.The house is open to the public and tickets run about $14. You pay at the gate and then drive to a visitor center, where you can arrange a guided tour or a self-guided version. There is a gift shop featuring all the usual colonial era Knick Knacks but also some interesting books. A small inn and guest cabins are also located on site as well as a small "grab n go" food operation.The main house and grounds are impressive, located about a mile from the river (to avoid ship fired cannonballs of the day). Many outbuildings and slave quarters can also be toured. The guided tour lasts about an hour. Afterwards, drive down to the beach and see the grist mill and cliffs on the Potomac. Be aware that on weekdays you will see and hear many loud groups of kids on school field trips.

Amazing! We went early on a Sunday morning, the staff were very helpful and informative: giving us all the info we needed to successfully enjoy the self guided audio tour! The grounds were very well maintained. This is a trip we will not forget!

At a time where it is well proven those writing textbooks and those choosing textbooks for our schools decided to change history to their own goals and warped ideals this place stands the test of time! Not only does it make the visitors feel the true Lee family legacy it also starts them down the road to what the Lee's did not only for Virginia but to help found the USA! PLEASE understand Robert Edward Lee, a Graduate of the US MILITARY ACADEMY at West Point where he graduated WITHOUT having ever recieved a demerit! Something very few if any but Robert E. Lee have done! General Robert E. Lee was also the FIRST GENERAL President Lincoln offered the command of the Armies of the Potomac! It's a true shame that more has not been written of Thomas Henry Lee and the Leedstown/ Westmoreland resolutions! I camped here as a Boy Scout in the late 60's and have been taught of these true Patriots called Lee's of Virginia. This is a fantastic place to learn and teach the true history of the Lee's. I love this fantastic place. I am honored to have camped here as a youth and have stayed here in the cabins as an adult! Check out the accommodations of the rental cabins. Do not forget the local dining with the best seafood ever. Great wineries and many other historic locations! I love my Northern Neck of Virginia. See if you can get someone to explain why it is called "The Northern Neck " !!!!! Thanks for visiting and enjoy. I pray you get to love this Northern Neck as much as I !

Six Washingtonians embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of our nation's history. The boyhood home of General Lee is unfamiliar territory to this "Yank" and has possibly been overshadowed by his more famous mansion in Arlington or his boyhood home in Old Town Alexandria. I live on Lee Highway and up the hill from Washington Lee High School. We know a lot about Lee before and after the Civil War and I was hoping to find out more about the Robert E. Lee, the child. Little did I know, nobody knows much about Lee in his childhood and he never spoke much about it. Actually, I wouldn't find out much about Robert E. Lee at all here. Touted as "Home of the Lees of Virginia & Birthplace of Robert E. Lee" you'd think that you'd learn more about what made Robert into the man that we'd come to know. Granted, Lee only lived in the house for the first four years of his life, I suppose it's difficult to deduct clues about how it contributed to his development. The house tour was worth the $10 and the young lady that assisted us was knowledgeable, friendly and witty. The only drawback to the house tour was the lack of a cohesive storyline. The tour felt disjointed because we jumped back and forth between different generations and it was hard to get a sense of what life was like for one specific family or a specific person. Our group felt similarly in regards to the tour and we had trouble connecting to the house. The grounds to the house are well kept and I enjoyed strolling through the property on an sunny autumn day. The gift shop was what you'd typically expect of a colonial inspired theme, although they do sell edible treats, honey (?) and jams that are made on the property, too. "I ain't afraid of no ghosts." - Ray Parker, Jr. GhostbustersI have a tendency to straggle. As the tour was ending, it took a minute to realize that people were heading downstairs. As I walked down the hallway towards the parlor, I saw a man in the parlor heading towards the fireplace. We had previously been in the room and I thought that one of my friends was either planning on scaring me or seeing something that I had missed. I peeked behind the door only to find the room empty. Apparently this ghostly scenario has been played out before. The tour guide herself told our group that she had heard footsteps in the house before and has been told of several reports of people seeing someone in the parlor. She says that people on the property believe that Light-horse Harry Lee continues to take up residence here. She also informed me that psychics have scoured the place and have reported "activities." A little digging yielded plenty of information. Verdict: Come prepared with a little research of you own to better understand any questions you may have about Robert E. Lee. Looking for ghostly activities? Ask the spirits for guidance. WoooOOOOooo. Do stroll the grounds and drive down towards the water! Not to be missed. Jeers: No Photography. Someone should tell them that photography without a flash doesn't harm the house. Ask the Italians, they've been doing this type of stuff for centuries. Interesting Info: Check out Google Street view for a self guided tour of the house. You can't take pictures, but you can tour the house via Google? Hypocrites.

We had a wonderful tour of this beautiful property. Eleanor was our guide and was fantastic. Things did get a bit uncomfortable when she was talking about removing the Lee statue (which I support) in Richmond, and people started chiming in about "rewriting history." As a lover of history and a perpetual student of our history, the Lee Plantation is a gem that must be preserved for our collective history. Thanks, Eleanor for a great tour.

Originally the Plantation of the Lee family one of the best preserved 18th century plantations Home to 2 signers of the Declaration of Independence and R E Lee. Beautiful grounds and onsite accommodations. A couple of food festivals in the summer. A much more inclusive look at plantation life.The accommodations are in cottages very unhotel like, with private bedrooms but a shared common living room, dining room, kitchen (fridge, microwave, water pitcher w/ filter, and coffee maker) and a back porch. Much more of a cottage feel. Have stayed 3 times and one time there were 2 other couples there that we neither heard or saw other than very briefly. On of the cottages allows dogs under 35 lbs. (at least as of this review) with a sur charge.