Woodlawn Plantation
Why it's listed
Woodlawn is a two-story brick mansion in Fairfax County, Virginia, built between 1800 and 1805 on a hill overlooking Dogue Creek. George Washington chose the site for its view of Mount Vernon and the Potomac, then gave part of his estate to his ward Eleanor Parke Custis and her husband, Major Lawrence Lewis. The gift included two thousand acres, a mill and a distillery. Dr. William Thornton, a friend of Washington and the first architect of the United States Capitol, designed the house. It follows a five-part plan, with a central block, end pavilions and connecting hyphens. Inside are a central hall with a curving stair and large rooms, some with imported marble mantels. The Lewis family kept the property until the 1840s, when Quakers from Philadelphia bought it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation acquired it in the 1950s. Some alterations to the wings have affected the building, but it remains a nationally known example of Federalist architecture, now reduced to about 160 acres.
Significance in brief: The house was a gift from George Washington to his ward Eleanor Parke Custis and her husband Major Lawrence Lewis. It was designed by Dr. William Thornton, first architect of the U.S. Capitol, and is described as a nationally famous example of Federalist architecture, despite some alterations to the wings.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000792, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of jct. of U.S. 1 and Rte. 235, Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfax (city and county) |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000792 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1805 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. William Thornton |
| Architectural style | Federalist |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Conservation |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated August 5, 1998 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; occupied and used as a museum and park, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. |
| Acreage | 160 |
| Coordinates | 38.71767, -77.13618 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000792.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1583426
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.