Gunston Hall (home of George Mason)


exterior c. 1755




This plantation, open for tours, was the home of the Revolutionary patriot George Mason. It is an outstanding example of Georgian architecture in the United States. Although the architect is unknown, the beautiful interior carvings were designed by the talented indentured servant William Buckland.
 

Views of the front

According to G. E. Kidder Smith, Buckland was also responsible for the "two unusual porches" (607). (See Chinese-inspired back porch below.)
 

Views of the back (Potomac River side)

 

The back porch

 

Views of the sides

 
The boxwood gardens have been restored; scholars believe that the central allée had been planted during Mason's residence. Today, Gunston Hall is a 550-acre National Historic Landmark owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Left: back from the garden; center and right: the gardens

 

Dependencies

Servants, craftsmen and their families lived on the plantation; most of these workers were enslaved African Americans.


Work Cited:
G. E. Kidder Smith. The Architecture of the United States. Volume 2. Garden City, New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1981.

Click here to return to index of art historical sites.

Click here to return to index of artists and architects.

Click here to return to chronological index.

Click here to see the home page of Bluffton College.


© 2002 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

Page created by Mary Ann Sullivan