Historic Huntley

CONTACT INFORMATION: Historic Huntley grounds open through November.
703-768-2525 TTY 711
6918 Harrison Lane
Alexandria, Virginia
Karen Sheffield
Manager

Historic Huntley

A 19th century architectural gem

This Federal period villa was built for Thomson Francis Mason, the mayor of Alexandria from 1827-30 and a grandson of George Mason IV, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.

Department Resources

Upcoming Featured Events

Apr
08
1:30PM, (5-Adult) Come out to your local park and learn about the science behind…
Apr
13
1:00PM, (All Ages) Join us at Historic Huntley for a celebration of arts and…
Apr
27
1:00PM, (All Ages) Discover a view for all time during a tour of Historic Huntley. The…

 

This Federal period villa was built for Thomson Francis Mason in 1825 as a summer retreat.  

The 19th century architectural gem is located near the main entrance to Huntley Meadows Park. Historic Huntley is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Over the years, Historic Huntley was used as a summer retreat, a grain farm, encampment for Civil War troops of the 3rd Michigan Infantry, and eventually was converted to a dairy farm. Ownership changed several times, and in later years, after being abandoned, the house endured considerable vandalism.

The Park Authority obtained the house and its surrounding 2.5 acres in 1989, and for the next two decades it was open only during semiannual events and for school and scout tours. A renovation of the manor house was completed in 2012. The buildings now are open for scheduled programs and tours as well as Saturday tours from late April through October.

The renovation got a boost from a $100,000 grant from the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures program, which was created by NPS to preserve significant historic properties and collections. The grant helped fund the site's extensive structural restoration work. The Park Authority provided several million dollars towards preservation and redevelopment of the site through two Park Bond programs. In 2017, the Tenant House on the site was renovated to serve as a small visitor center. This allowed for expanded historic and cultural programming.

Historic Huntley

Step into the past at Historic Huntley where history comes to life within the walls of this meticulously preserved estate.  Explore a journey though time and witness the captivating stories that shaped this landmark.


Park Rules

Please help us protect this valuable resource.
  • No trespassing after dark
  • Park grounds are closed December, January and February
  • No littering, fires or alcohol
  • No metal detectors
  • No removal or disturbance of any artifacts, building materials or grounds
  • No motorized vehicles
  • No sleds, bikes or skateboards on site
  • Dogs must be on leash at all times. Please pick up after your dog.
  • Please respect our neighbors, and don’t park outside the designated lot.

Friends of Historic Huntley

Friends of Historic Huntley is a not-for-profit organization devoted to preserving and protecting Historic Huntley. The group has advocated for the site for more than 20 years. For membership information, call the park or visit the Friends of Historic Huntley online.

Fairfax Virtual Assistant