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Details

Historic Dumfries virginia.

General Info

Visitors to the Weems-Botts Museum will learn about historic Dumfries, the oldest chartered town in Virginia. Colonial Dumfries had a thriving port - rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston - located on a deep water harbor, which no longer exists. The tobacco trade led to the development of Dumfries and its position as the social, political, and economic center of Prince William County in the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. Visitors will also learn about the people who used the building, which dates back to the 18th century, including: Parson Weems, author of George Washington's first biography and originator of the cherry tree story; Benjamin Botts, a lawyer and defense attorney for Aaron Burr during his infamous treason trial; and the Merchant family, who lived in the house from 1869-1968. Tour offered hourly May-October (First tour at 11am - last tour at 3pm). Tours by appointment only November-April. Park open year-round dawn to dusk.Visitors to the Weems-Botts Museum will learn about historic Dumfries, the oldest chartered town in Virginia. Colonial Dumfries had a thriving port - rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston - located on a deep water harbor, which no longer exists. The tobacco trade led to the development of Dumfries and its position as the social, political, and economic center of Prince William County in the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. Visitors will also learn about the people who used the building, which dates back to the 18th century, including: Parson Weems, author of George Washington's first biography and originator of the cherry tree story; Benjamin Botts, a lawyer and defense attorney for Aaron Burr during his infamous treason trial; and the Merchant family, who lived in the house from 1869-1968. Tour offered hourly May-October (First tour at 11am - last tour at 3pm). Tours by appointment only November-April. Park open year-round dawn to dusk.

HoursCLOSED NOW
Regular Hours:
Mon
Thu - Sun

Contact Info

Phone:

Main - 703-221-2218

Address:
3944 Cameron St Dumfries, VA 22026
Email:

Reviews

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anonymous

09/21/10

2.0

A somewhat interesting find on the history of Dumfries, but the tour takes too long and overstates the importance of what was once (for a VERY short period of time) a port city in the colonial period. Known more for being 'haunted', yet there aren't any stories since 2007 that are beyond the "I sensed" or could be explained by the structure not having been weather-proofed. Still, if you can get the tour guide to give you a quick synopsis and tour, its worth a stop if you're in town and the price is right for military families (free!).

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Categories
Museums, Historical Places, Libraries, Places Of Interest, Tourist Information & Attractions
Location
From the north: Take exit 152 from I-95, merge left at "Y" exit onto Route 234, turn right at intersection with Route 1. In Dumfries, after highway splits and you pass Town Hall and Community Center on the left and the garden center Dumfries Nursery on the right, turn right off Route 1 onto Duke St. at the Weems-Botts Museum/Merchant Park/William Grayson Memorial sign. The Museum is 2 blocks up the hill at the corner of Duke and Cameron streets, but tours star at our Museum Annex at 3944 Cameron
Associations
American Alliance of Museums; Virginia Association of Museums
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