Loudoun Agricultural and Mechanical Institute
Also known as: Institute Farm
Why it's listed
Institute Farm sits at the foot of a small hill in a wooded area off Route 650 near Aldie, Loudoun County. Its main building, a 3½-story structure of stucco-covered stone, dates to about 1854 and was built for the Loudoun County Agricultural Institute and Chemical Academy. The school taught mathematics, chemistry and practical science to farmers and businessmen, and is described as the first agricultural school in Virginia and an early school of scientific agronomy in the country. It was incorporated in 1855-56 but failed in 1860. James Gulick, one of its founders, held the property until his death in 1867, and it later passed through other owners. In 1916 the Institute Corporation acquired it as headquarters for the National Beagle Club of America. The club added thirteen log cabins between 1917 and 1971, and still uses the old school for offices, club rooms and a dormitory. The nominated area covers sixteen acres, including the building, cabins and terraced south lawn.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the building as a reminder of the first agricultural school in Virginia and one of the first schools of scientific agronomy in the United States. It also notes that the property has been the headquarters of the National Beagle Club of America since 1916. The site was once part of James Monroe's Oak Hill estate.
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 82004568, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 650, Aldie |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004568 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Benjamin Hyde Benton, Harmon Bitzer, and James Gulick, who erected the building) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent, unaltered condition; the main building is still used for club offices, club rooms and a member dormitory, and the cabins host beagle and basset club events. |
| Acreage | 16 |
| Coordinates | 39.00688, -77.65914 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82004568.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6039102
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.