morven park

250keithl

This is an interesting place steeped in Colonial history. There's also an excellent carriage museum on the grounds that's absolutely worth visiting simply amazing things in there a good reminder of a life long gone. Highly recommend the house and grounds tour as well as seasonal holiday and candlelit tours around Christmas.

trip_loverCA

We visited the Leesburg area in winter and wanted to get out and see some history before the snowstorm hit. were very happy to find this gem open, when several other places like it are closed. We toured the mansion and the Hound & Hunting Museum and Carriage Museum at Morven Park and found beautifully displayed artifacts in a wonderfully restored mansion. Our tour guide, Ashley, did a great job giving our small group interesting facts and kept even my 16-year-old interested. I would venture to say that this would be a perfect place to visit in the autumn, as we saw pictures of the estate with brilliant fall colors surrounding this impressive property. Though I'm sure it's beautiful in spring and summer as well. They also have special events at the park, such as the annual Hound Show and traditional fox hunts, and they rent out areas for small weddings and other gatherings. The Carriage Museum has many different types of carriages and sleighs that are very well-kept and impressive as well. The staff are warm and welcoming. A great place to visit when in the Leesburg area.

LoudounCW

Like stepping back in time! The home was beautifully decorated for the holidays and there was so many things to see. We toured the home and carriage museum.

Pannipannini

Morven park is lovely...grounds are amazing with good short walking trails. We visited in the winter and also did the house tour.We visit one historic house a year...a tradition. By far our tour guide, Matt, gave the most interesting, knowledgeable narrative of any tour we have taken in the last ten years. His ability to distill complex ideas, facts, connections, and events down to a colorful one-hour presentation, was impressive. We found ourselves interested in what happened at this house and with the people who lived in it. The house itself is beautiful, and for a tour with little kids, just the right size. The carriage museum also has a fantastic collection - well worth visiting.

LongIslandMabel

We wandered the grounds of this lovely expansive park on a beautiful fall day and enjoyed the changing foliage. The mansion wasn't open during the hours of our visit so we couldn't see inside but we explored the gardens on our own.

davejesc

Grounds were gorgeous. Most is free.There is a $10 tour of the mansion which is well worth the money.We learned a lot and enjoyed how well informed the guide was.A wonderful day trip.

Luvdroad

This place was great. We used a Groupon, which worked out to $5 per adult; we had three kids with us, and one (age 5) got in free, and the other two were $5 each--all in all, a reasonable price for the experience. The main house is very grand, although from the outside, it looks like it needs some work. The inside, however, is very well maintained, and the furnishings, artwork and decorations are very impressive, the vast majority original to the house. I liked how nothing in the rooms was roped off, and there is a lot to look at (unlike in some historic homes, where the furnishings are very minimal). Tour guide was great. The carriage house museum has a wonderful collection--even my husband, who gets easily bored and restless in museums, really enjoyed it. The grounds are really pretty and just nice to walk around; the kids really liked running and exploring outside.

Fishtherapy

My husband and I are not big history buffs but I found this tour very interesting. The tour guide was very knowledgable about the different families that lived there. The home did not have that old musty smell like most older homes. There are stairs so be prepared. To think such a large home and never any children raised there. The furnishings were beautiful, loved the carvings on the furniture. The tour starts on the hour and last about 50 minutes. The only have so many spots, so make sure you arrive 15 minutes early to get the spot you want. We had a Groupon which was well worth the price. The grounds were beautiful but unfortunately a litte to windy the day we went to walk around. However, we did find a great winery about half hour away, The winery at Bull Run - loved all there wines.

Motzof4

Had a group-on to visit Morven Park. It was a lovely fall afternoon, perfect for a trip to the "country". The grounds are lovely and quite extensive. My husband and I love looking at old homes - especially ones that are furnished. The house is well maintained and has quite a collection of period pieces. The chandeliers are magnificent. Our tour guide was charming and very knowledgeable about the house and the family that lived there. All in all it was a very enjoyable afternoon. Don't forget that the tours start on the hour if you want to time your visit to start with a tour of the house.

travelkitty50

We visited here because of getting a Groupon (2 for 1). It was a perfect day to come here, a warm, dry, sunny day in October. It was not that difficult to find, at the second entrance, and parking is free in the paved lot. There is no signage there telling you where to go so we and others were wandering around, trying to find some indication of what paved path to go toward to get us to the property. Once we found it, it was a pleasant walk through a wooded park and past some small formal gardens up to the house. The visitor's office where you get tickets is on the side of the house. The house tours are on the hour and last for about 45 minutes. That is just long enough to see and hear the history of the building and family occupation of the home. The grounds here are really beautiful and I read that they have about 1000 acres there. We walked down another path to find the carriage museum too, which was interesting as many of the items were donated from one woman's private collection. There is a holiday event there in December which we plan to go back to see.

StLTourGirl

Our tour group visited here on our specialty tour of D.C. I asked my planner to find places that no one visits or is aware of and this was one of them. What a hit! We couldn't believe our eyes as we toured this magnificent home. They are still in the process of cataloging it as the records to the home have not been easily found. If you have an eye and understanding of antiques, you may be able to help identify them. We saw the diary of George Patton from his days as a boy hunting there in the case. They still use the hunting room for special meetings. And THEN they took us to the carriage house where they have Tom Thumb's carriage, a hearse and much more. A very extensive collection and not to be missed, especially since it's a bit of a hidden gem. They are known for their equestrian events much more so than the house so take advantage of this tour before the crowds in D.C. find it!

SusanEMR

Admission is a very reasonable $10 pp or find it 2 for one on Groupon! Admission price gets you in to the house, carriage museum (self guided), fox hunting museum and grounds. Interesting and informative tour. Long enough but not too long, if you know what I mean. Impressive collection of 16th century antiques, paintings, Flemish tapestries, etc. The docent did a nice job of helping us understand the background of the various owners which helped understand how the house began and evolved over time. It was interesting to learn how the owners of this home helped shape the region's economy and politics. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the grounds. The one thing lacking is a tea room, no food available on-site. If you like to walk/hike take advantage of the hiking trails or wide open acreage. Tours begin on the hour and last 45 minutes. You can see everything in an hour and a half or you can take your time and spend the day. If you appreciate Virginia country life, history or horses, plan to take your time at this historic home.

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Morven Park was home to many old Virginia families over the centuries. Westmoreland Davis and his wife Marguarite moved here in the early 1900s. He was a lawyer, farmer, governor, and experimented to improve the agriculture business in the region. Sound boring? If you get Matt for a tour guide, you will become as excited as he is about the family, the estate, and the history of this area.A must-see for Virginia and U.S. history lovers!Tour of the house is about 45 minutes. Starts on the hour. There is a carriage museum on the grounds. There is a Fox Hunt exhibit in another area of the house. There are some walking trails through the woods and grounds.

RosemarieM595

There was a wedding taking place the day we were there. What a great place for that! It overlooks a lot of land and scenery.The tour inside the home itself was very informative. The docent was so knowledgable and friendly. The Hunters museum is also on site and self-guided.

401rp

Originally built in 1800 and including as much as 2000 acres of land, this was the home of Westmoreland Davis, Governor of Virginia from 1918-1922. The mansion was lived in by him & his wife until his death in 1942. Marguarite, his wife, left the house shortly thereafter never to return. The property was put into a trust and is open to the public. Furnishings are just as Mrs Davis left them in '42 and the 45 minute guided tour is filled with information and stories from the time the Davis family occupied the property (1903-1942) The carriage collection on the grounds is outstanding and is included in the entrance fee.