Stratford Hall Historic Preserve

Museum Store Sunday 2025
2025-11-30 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
On November 30, boost your 2025 holiday shopping spree with a 20% Museum Store Sunday discount* at Stratford Hall’s charming Gift Shop! Browse Stratford merch, locally-made preserves and sauces, entertaining gifts, décor, and of course, our collection of books sure to complement the shelves of the history buff in your life. *Some exclusions apply.
Some exclusions apply. Admission is not required to visit the Gift Shop.

Fall Family Fun Day
2025-11-01 10:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
It’s harvest time on Virginia’s Northern Neck! Fun for the whole family awaits at Stratford Hall Historic Preserve, including tractor wagon rides, take-home crafts, lawn games, ZOE’s mobile coffee bar, scavenger hunts, eel pot demonstrations, pumpkin painting, and even pumpkin bowling. Don’t forget to explore the Great House with one of five unique audio tour experiences—including a special children’s audio tour. A guided version of the children’s tour will be offered at 11am, 12pm, and 2pm (meet on the South stairs). Visitors can also enjoy 10% off* in the Stratford Hall Gift Shop! (20% off* for Friends of Stratford members) *Some exclusions apply.
Get tickets on our official SimpleTix page!
Admission is $5 per person ages 6+ and free for children ages 5 and under. Pre-registration is not required. Friends of Stratford members and Museums for All participants receive free admission with identification.
At 11:30 a.m., a ribbon-cutting will be held for the completion of the Carriage House roof restoration project.
This event is made possible in part by a gift from The Tidewater Foundation.

First Oval Office Project
2025-10-19 10:00 - 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Witness General George Washington’s Revolutionary War encampment come to life at Stratford Hall on Sunday, October 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! This unique, one-day program will offer visitors the chance to learn from costumed historic interpreters and explore handsewn, full-scale reproductions of Washington’s sleeping and office marquee, dining marquee, baggage tent, camp bed, furniture, and more that were part of his mobile headquarters while on campaign.

Stratford Hall is the c. 1738 home of the Lee family, including Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee—the only two brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence. Another Stratford Hall resident was none other than Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, who gave the famous “First in war, first in peace” eulogy for his comrade and friend, George Washington. Audio tours of the Great House and grounds access to the 1,800+ acre Historic Preserve are included with admission. Choose from one of five self-guided tours:

Who Lived at Stratford
Band of Brothers: The Lee Men of Stratford Hall
Leading Ladies: The Lee Women of Stratford Hall
The Crossroads: African & African American Life at Stratford Hall
Who Lived at Stratford Junior (Children’s Audio Tour)

Purchase tickets on our official SimpleTix page!

First Oval Office Project Tickets:
$15 for adults & ages 14 and older
$10 for ages 6 – 13
Free for ages 5 & under
Free for Friends of Stratford members and Museums for All participants

Pre-registration is not required. Friends of Stratford and Museums for All participants, please bring identification with you to the Visitor Center.

General George Washington’s original sleeping and office tent from the Revolutionary War is on permanent display at the Museum of the American Revolution in historic Philadelphia.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-10-11 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
SOLD OUT! Contact mbowman@stratfordhall.org to be added to the waitlist.
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Dates: Saturday, October 11 (Registration opens September 13)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Register: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fossil-hunting-excursion-october-11-2025-tickets-213670
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

NNK250 Discovery Symposium: "We the People"
2025-10-03 18:30 - 2025-10-04 16:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
This year’s NNK250 Discovery Symposium: “We the People” will take place October 3-4 with a medley of events highlighting new and exciting research findings on Northern Neck topics. Attendees are welcome to join us for any individual event, or get a $25 All-Access Pass for the whole weekend!

Reserve your seat at the Symposium today on our official SimpleTix page!

Please Note: The 9:30 a.m. Saturday “behind-the-curtain” tour of the Memorial House at the George Washington Birthplace National Monument has been canceled.

Schedule

Friday at 6:30 p.m. | Award-winning historian, Dr. John A. Ragosta, will present “Learning to Deal with Dissent: The New Nation in Crisis, 1798-1799” in the Council House at Stratford Hall. | $15

Saturday at 11:00 a.m. | Stratford Hall will host a preservation-focused tour of its Great House with Phil Mark, Senior Director of Preservation & Maintenance. | $15

Saturday at 1:00 p.m. | Panel: Historic Spaces in Public Places | FREE
Sara Rivers Cofield, Curator of Federal Collections
Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory
Katie Shepard, Chief of Education and Interpretation
Virginia State Parks
Dr. Lauren McMillan, Cultural Resource Manager
Virginia State Parks (co-presented with Michael Spencer, Associate Professor, University of Mary Washington)
Dave Myers, Park Manager
Westmoreland State Park
Saturday at 2:20 p.m. | Break
Saturday at 2:45 p.m. | Panel: Interpreting New Findings at Stratford Hall, Menokin, and Fones Cliffs | FREE
Connie Rosemont, Executive Director
Menokin Foundation
Dr. Julia King, Professor of Anthropology
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Dr. Douglas Sanford, Professor Emeritus of Historic Preservation
University of Mary Washington

This event is made possible in part by a grant from the VA250 Commission in partnership with Virginia Humanities.

Lodging

Extend your stay by reserving a room in the Cheek Guest House or Astor Guest House with special event rate of $129* per night! Call (804) 493-1967 or email reservations@stratfordhall.org. *Subject to taxes and fees. Log cabins not included in offer.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-09-28 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
SOLD OUT! Contact mbowman@stratfordhall.org to be added to the waitlist.
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Date: Sunday, September 28 (Registration opens September 1)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Register: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fossil-hunting-excursion-september-28-2025-tickets-213669
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

2025 Wine & Oyster Festival
2025-09-20 10:00 - 2025-09-21 16:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
The Stratford Hall Wine & Oyster Festival returns to the Oval on September 20 & 21, 2025!
Enjoy tastings from over a dozen Virginia wineries and access to coastal oysters, distilleries, live music, artisan booths, food trucks, video game play, car shows and more! Join us on Saturday, September 20 from 10am – 6pm or Sunday, September 21 from 11am – 4pm.
Learn more about our sponsors, vendors, and entertainment on the Festival webpage.
Pre-sale ticketing has ended. Please purchase Festival Tickets at the Visitor Center.
General Admission Tasting Tickets: $45
Non-Tasting Tickets: $25
Children Ages 7-12: $10
Children Ages 6 & Under: FREE
Please note: Tickets are valid for one day only. To attend both Saturday and Sunday, please purchase one ticket per day (two total to attend both days per person). Tasting Tickets are for wine tasting only and do not include other tastings or food. This event is held rain-or-shine, and tickets are non-refundable.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-08-24 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
This event has SOLD OUT, please contact mbowman@stratfordhall.org to be added to the waitlist.
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Date: Sunday, August 24 (Registration opens August 1)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Register: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fossil-hunting-excursion-august-24-2025-tickets-213666
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

CANCELED - Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series
2025-08-13 17:30 - 20:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
EVENT CANCELED DUE TO POTENTIAL WEATHER
Join us on the river this summer! Take a mid-week break for Stratford Hall’s new summertime concert series at the scenic Cliffs Overlook. Enjoy live music, food, and golden beverages with the best view in town overlooking the Potomac River.
Music by Chauncey Fortune
Food by Lisa’s Mobile Kitchen
Sip on golden beverages with a cash bar available and enjoy food for purchase from visiting food trucks. The live music will run from 5:30 – 8pm, with food and golden beverages available for purchase from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Admission is free! There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle at the Gate.
Must bring a valid photo ID. No outside food or alcohol is allowed.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the river for our new open air concert series this summer!

First Africans Day
2025-07-26 10:00 - 18:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us for a powerful day of reflection, celebration, and remembrance as we honor the stories and contributions of the enslaved Africans and African Americans who shaped the history of Stratford Hall.
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black will be our keynote speaker! A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, she teaches history at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center. She has written extensively about the transnational history of West African rice farmers, including in such works as Deep Roots: Rice Farmers in West Africa and the African Diaspora. Guests can look forward to a wealth of insight, highlighted in her recent book COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War.
Register for FREE on our SimpleTix page!
Admission includes access to the Great House, grounds, and all First Africans Day activities.

2025 Schedule:
African American Cemetery
10:00 – 10:45 AM Opening Ceremony
Cheyney McKnight, Shiloh Baptist Church, Tanyah Dadze, Becky Stewart and Slam Stewart
Historic Area & Council House
11:00 AM KanKouran West African Dance Company
Great House Lawn
12:00 – 3:00 PM Historical Interpreters
Dontavius Williams – Historic Kitchen
Willie & Hope Wright – Payne Cabin
Harold Caldwell – Southwest Outbuilding
12:00 PM African Ox Flute Performance
Joshua Allen – West Yard
1:00 PM Music of the African Diaspora
SlamOne – West Yard
1:00 PM Recognizing & Sharing Family Treasures
Bessida Cauthorne White – Council House
1:30 PM Tobacco Talk
Harold Caldwell – Southwest Outbuilding
2:00 PM African Drumming Circle
SlamOne – West Yard
3:15 PM Keynote: COMBEE
Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black, 2025 Pulitzer Prize-Winner – Council House
4:30 PM Open Mic & Storytelling
Dontavius Williams – Great Hall in the Great House
Stratford Beach
5:30 PM Cosing Ceremony
Cheyney McKnight, Becky Stewart and Slam Stewart

Lunch will be served in the Dining Room from 12 – 2 pm, including fried chicken, potato salad, green beans, rolls, dessert, tea, and lemonade; $20 for ages 12+ and $10 for 11 & under. Food Trucks can be found near the Carriage House from 11 am – 3 pm. Enjoy a refreshing treat from Tilly’s Ice Cream, or grab some BBQ, cheesesteaks, hamburgers, or hotdogs from Big Mike’s Food Truck!
Shuttle transportation will be available on a 10-15 minute loop, with stops at the Carriage House and Stables, the Council House, and the Payne Cabin. For those with mobility limitations, golf carts driven by Stratford Staff are available to assist.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-07-13 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
This event is SOLD OUT! Please contact mbowman@stratfordhall.org to join the waitlist.
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Date: Sunday, July 13 (Registration opens June 15)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Registration: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fossil-hunting-excursion-july-13-2025-tickets-213664
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

Teachers Seminar: Revolutionary Stuff
2025-07-10 - 2025-07-13 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Stratford Hall and Preservation Virginia are delighted to announce their 2025 Teachers Seminar, Revolutionary Stuff, a multi-day continuing education event for teachers of history and related disciplines. Hosted at Stratford Hall from July 10-July 13, 2025, Revolutionary Stuff studies the ordinary and extraordinary objects that were both nodes of access to 18th-century revolutionary politics and ideals and sites of contest over those ideals. Even as objects and ideas about them structured identity and resistance, they also shaped hierarchies and social orders of a new nation and national culture. Join us to learn how the stuff of everyday lives empowered and limited continuity and change. Onsite presentations at Stratford Hall from scholars and experts and travel-study to nearby Washington, D.C. will be capped by a workshop focused on translating our insights for the K through 12 classroom.
Applications are closed.
Please contact Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey with questions.

Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series
2025-07-09 17:30 - 20:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us on the river this summer! Take a mid-week break for Stratford Hall’s new summertime concert series at the scenic Cliffs Overlook. Enjoy live music, food, and golden beverages with the best view in town overlooking the Potomac River.
This new concert series features music from Northern Neck artists and food from local food trucks:
Wednesday, June 11 – Music by Dave Smitty; Food by True Blue BBQ
Wednesday, July 9 – Music by Chauncey Fortune; Food by Segar’s Legacy Event Center Restaurant & Catering
Wednesday, August 13 – Music by Rough Cut Diamond; Food by Lisa’s Mobile Kitchen
Sip on golden beverages with a cash bar available and enjoy food for purchase from visiting food trucks. The live music will run from 5:30 – 8pm, with food and golden beverages available for purchase from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Admission is free! There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle at the Gate.
Must bring a valid photo ID. No outside food or alcohol is allowed. Rain location is the Dining Room at Stratford Hall.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the river for our new open air concert series this summer!

Fourth of July at Stratford Hall
2025-07-04 11:00 - 14:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us in commemorating the Fourth of July at the historic home of the only two brothers who signed the Declaration of Independence. On Friday, July 4th, immerse yourself in live colonial music by Ampersand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with colonial games, family-friendly activities, lawn games, and creative crafts with The Arts Center of Montross. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring snacks, blankets and lawn chairs for picnics throughout the historic property.
Plus, take advantage of a 10% discount throughout our Gift Shop* and 20% off on all Americana décor and apparel. *Certain exclusions may apply.
Be sure to stop by “Da Mini Hut” concession tent to snack on funnel cakes and fried Oreos, or grab a refreshing Hawaiian shaved ice–Da Hula Hut’s famous treat.
Extend the commemoration into a rejuvenating retreat with a 20% discount on accommodation at the Cheek and Astor Guest Houses, as well as our charming one, two, or three-bedroom log cabins from July 1st to 5th.
Pre-registration is not required. Tickets available at the Gate the day of the event.
Admission:
$4.00 for ages 6+ (House and Grounds)
Free for children 5 & under
Free for Friends of Stratford and Blue Star Families
Get tickets ahead of time on our SimpleTix page!
We are proud to partner with NNK250 for this event.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-06-29 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
This event is SOLD OUT! Please contact mbowman@stratfordhall.org to join the waitlist.
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Dates: Sunday, June 29 (Registration opens June 1)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion

Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

Historic Landscapes Lecture and Garden Tour
2025-06-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Celebrate National Great Outdoors Month by joining Stratford Hall’s Director of Landscapes, Matt Peterschmidt, for an insightful talk on 18th-century landscapes and a guided tour of Stratford Hall’s historic gardens.
Come for a lecture in the Jessie Ball duPont Memorial Library at Stratford Hall beginning at 10am, then take a casual walking tour of the grounds and gardens that surround the Great House of Stratford Hall. This lecture and tour will look at the past, present, and future of the landscape around the nearly 300-year-old Great House. Learn of the different influences that have shaped the landscape from before the Lee family’s ownership up until present day.
Visitors can expect long periods of walking and standing during the tour and to encounter uneven brick and gravel pathways. Part of this experience is outdoors, so please dress for the weather, bring sunscreen, and a bottle of water.
Limited spaces are available and advance registration is required.
$30 per person
$15 per person for Friends of Stratford
Register at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/historic-landscapes-lecture-and-garden-tou-tickets-216868.

Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series
2025-06-11 17:30 - 20:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us on the river this summer! Take a mid-week break for Stratford Hall’s new summertime concert series at the scenic Cliffs Overlook. Enjoy live music, food, and golden beverages with the best view in town overlooking the Potomac River.
This new concert series features music from Northern Neck artists and food from local food trucks:
Wednesday, June 11 – Music by Dave Smitty; Food by True Blue BBQ
Wednesday, July 9 – Music by Chauncey Fortune; Food by Segar’s Legacy Event Center Restaurant & Catering
Wednesday, August 13 – Music by Rough Cut Diamond; Food by Lisa’s Mobile Kitchen
Sip on golden beverages with a cash bar available and enjoy food for purchase from visiting food trucks. The live music will run from 5:30 – 8pm, with food and golden beverages available for purchase from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Admission is free! There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle at the Gate.
Must bring a valid photo ID. No outside food or alcohol allowed. Rain location is the Dining Room at Stratford Hall.
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the river for our new open air concert series this summer!

Virginia Resolved: A Commemoration of Independence
2025-06-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Online ticket sales have ended. Tickets may be purchased at the Stratford Hall Visitor Center on Saturday, June 7.
Join us on June 7th at Stratford Hall for Virginia Resolved: A Commemoration of Independence, a day of festivities marking the 249th anniversary of Richard Henry Lee’s Resolution on Independence.
On June 7, 1776, acting on the instructions of the 5th Virginia Convention, Northern Neck native Richard Henry Lee introduced in the 2nd Continental Congress a motion to recognize the Colonies as “free and independent states” and “dissolve all political connection” between them and Great Britain.
This commemorative day will open with a Citizenship Ceremony welcoming young Americans. Enjoy a Student Art Exhibit presented by Westmoreland County High School and relax while listening to colonial music in the Great House. Meet Richard Henry Lee as he engages in lively conversations on independence and presents on behalf of Virginia the resolutions that ultimately severed ties with Great Britain. Experience 18th century living history demonstrations, including colonial foodways programs, musket demonstrations by several chapters of the Virginia Sons of the American Revolution, and cavalry drills portraying the 1st Continental Light Dragoons and 4th Continental Light Dragoons. Also visit with our Northern Neck community partners and local food trucks, engage in hands-on activities, and explore the Great House and grounds of Stratford Hall.
This family-friendly event is in partnership with the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Northern Neck 250 (NNK250).
Pre-registration is encouraged. Tickets include entrance to Stratford Hall for all Virginia Resolved activities and access to the Great House and grounds.
Virginia Resolved Tickets:
$15 for adults & children ages 14 and older
$10 for ages 6 – 13
Free for ages 5 & under
Free with proper identification for Friends of Stratford, Blue Star Families, and Museums for All participants
Online ticket sales have ended. Tickets may be purchased at the Stratford Hall Visitor Center on Saturday, June 7.

Stay tuned for the premier of our third video in the series on the Revolution-era Lee family on June 7, made possible with support from Americana Corner’s Preserving American Grant program and the Comegys Bight Charitable Foundation.

Fossil Hunting Excursion
2025-05-31 09:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Dating from the Miocene Epoch – approximately 15 to 6 million years ago, the Stratford Cliffs are part of a rare geological phenomenon ranking among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. Whether you are a seasoned collector, or this is your first experience, Stratford Hall is the place for you! Spend a day hunting for fossils along the shores of the Potomac River, explore the Stratford Cliffs, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the great outdoors.
Excursions are rated at a moderately strenuous to strenuous activity level requiring long periods of walking, hiking, standing, stooping, and bending. If you wish to access the further extremities of the beach, this will include climbing over or under washed up debris or felled trees. Minimum age requirement for all fossil hunting excursions is 8 years old. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Event Date: Saturday, May 31 (Registration opens May 1)
Event Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per adults and $35 per child (ages 8 to 13)
Age requirements: 8+ years of age; All participants under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Availability: 40 slots per excursion
Registration Link: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fossil-hunting-excursion-may-31-2025-tickets-213656
Fossil hunting excursions are weather dependent activities and Stratford Hall reserves the right to cancel excursions at any time. A full refund will be given unless the cancellation is due to inclement weather, in which case a reschedule date will be provided. All participant cancellations require a 48-hour email notice before the excursion takes place. Absence from an excursion is nonrefundable. Refunds are the sole discretion of Stratford Hall and will be considered in such cases where there is an illness or emergency. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org.
Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for all Stratford Hall fossil hunting excursions. Registration for each trip will open approximately one month in advance. To register, please visit our website at www.stratfordhall.org. Under the Events tab, click on Events Calendar, then scroll down until you find the fossil excursion. Registration will open at 12 AM on the specified date for each excursion.
Additional information will be provided via email prior to your visit. Please contact Mary Bowman at mbowman@stratfordhall.org with any questions regarding Stratford Hall’s fossil hunting excursions.

Preservation Tour: Behind the Scenes
2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Have you ever wondered what it takes to preserve and restore a historic house like the Great House at Stratford Hall? Now is your chance to learn all about it!
Celebrate National Preservation Month at Stratford Hall. Join Director of Preservation Phil Mark for a behind-the-scenes preservation tour of the 18th-century Great House. The tour will focus on the main floor of the house and the most recent room restoration projects. The exterior and lower level of the Great House will also be discussed during the tour, as will preservation projects taking place at neighboring outbuildings.
The tour will last approximately two hours with long periods of walking and standing. Visitors can expect to encounter uneven brick and gravel pathways, narrow spaces, and stairs to access the main floor of the historic Great House.
Limited spaces are available and advance reservation is required.
$30 per person
$15 per person for Friends of Stratford
Visitors are asked to arrive at the Stratford Hall Visitor Center 10 minutes prior to the start of the tour.
Tickets at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/preservation-tour-behind-the-scenes-tickets-207026

"Rebel Abroad: A Stratford Subversive in the Heart of Empire" with Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey
2025-04-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us virtually for “Rebel Abroad: A Stratford Subversive in the Heart of Empire,” a public lecture by Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey, Vice President of Research & Collections and Director of the Jessie Ball duPont Memorial Library at Stratford Hall.
The events of April 19, 1775 in Massachusetts Bay Colony are often remembered collectively as ‘the shot heard round the world.’ Skirmishes in and around Lexington & Concord between British Regulars and colonial Militia were only the first phase of the action. The next phase was a contest for control of the narrative about what actually happened, a phase in which a Lee brother of Stratford was a primary actor! Join us online at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, as we commemorate shots fired at Lexington & Concord and learn the gripping true story of how this Stratford born and raised Rebel Abroad waged a media war against British tyranny.
Pre-registration is required. The Zoom information will be shared prior to the event.
$5 Virtual Registration
Register at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/rebel-abroad-a-stratford-subversive-in-th-tickets-206197

Easter Eggstravaganza
2025-04-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join Stratford Hall and the local Northern Neck Lodge 32 of the Fraternal Order of Police for a free Easter Eggstravaganza, including egg hunt and activities, in front of the Great House at Stratford Hall!
Activities will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 p.m.
The Easter egg hunt will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Special prizes will be awarded to the most egg-ceptional collectors!
Following the egg hunt, enjoy a complimentary hot dog lunch while supplies last.
Important details:

Plan to arrive between 10 – 10:30 a.m. for the egg hunt.
Bring your own basket for the egg hunt.
There will be designated egg hunt locations for children ages 0-2 years; 3-4 years; 5-6 years; 7-8 years; 9-10 years; and 11-12 years.
Don’t forget your camera for photos with the Easter Bunny.

Admission and activities for the Easter Eggstravaganza are free and pre-registration is not required. Admission does not include entrance to the Bunny Breakfast Buffet or the historic Great House.

Mark your calendars and hop on over to Stratford Hall for a day of Easter fun!

Bunny Breakfast Buffet
2025-04-19 09:00 - 10:30 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Enjoy a delicious Bunny Breakfast Buffet from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in the Dining Room at Stratford Hall where we will offer a full breakfast to keep you fueled for the egg-ceptional hunt! Breakfast includes a pancake bar with your favorite toppings: chocolate chips, powdered sugar, berry compote, fresh fruit, sprinkles, syrup and whipped cream, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit! Make your favorite blend of hot chocolate with toppings from our hot chocolate bar, or choose from the breakfast classics coffee, tea, juice, or milk.
$25 for Adults (13+)
$15 for Children (ages 4-12)
Free for children 3 and under
Don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures with the Easter Bunny throughout breakfast.
Advance reservations are required for Bunny Breakfast.
Following the breakfast, join Stratford Hall Historic Preserve & the Northern Neck Lodge 32 of the Fraternal Order of Police for an Easter Eggstravaganza! Admission and activities for the Easter Eggstravaganza are free. Does not include entrance to the Bunny Breakfast or the historic Great House.
Don’t miss out on the joy and egg-citement of our Easter Eggstravaganza and Bunny Breakfast!
Make your Bunny Breakfast reservations today: https://www.simpletix.com/e/bunny-breakfast-buffet-at-stratford-hall-tickets-204235

Stratford Hall Plant Sale
2025-04-12 - 2025-05-05 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Plants grown in Stratford Hall’s greenhouse are available to purchase from April 12 – May 5, 2025. A selection of heirloom vegetables, culinary herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs will be on sale daily at the Gift Shop. The selection of plants will vary during the sale, so come back weekly for new items!
Gift Shop Hours April 12 – May 5:
Monday – Friday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friends of Stratford Member Preview: Plant Sale
2025-04-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Friends of Stratford members are invited to join us for a special preview of the annual Stratford Hall Plant Sale. Special items will be available this evening only, along with heirloom vegetables, culinary herbs, perennials, native shrubs, and trees. Also, see what is new in the Gift Shop for the spring season as you enjoy a special shopping experience with a 20% discount on select items.
This event is free and exclusively for Friends of Stratford members. To register, email development@stratfordhall.org or call (804) 493-8919.
Not a member yet? Become a Friend of Stratford today to enjoy exclusive experiences like this, free admission for a year to the historic Great House and grounds, special discounts, and more.

"A Convulsion at Appomattox: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and the Long History of Civil War Surrender" by Dr. David Silkenat
2025-04-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join us April 9, 2025 on the 160th anniversary of the Surrender at Appomattox Court House for A Convulsion at Appomattox: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, and the Long History of Civil War Surrender, a lecture by Dr. David Silkenat, the Richard J. Milbauer Chair in Southern History at the University of Florida. This will be a virtual lecture at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9.
For $10, join Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey prior to the lecture at 5 p.m. in the Jessie Ball duPont Memorial Library for a reception and special viewing of archives and collections papers and objects related to the Surrender at Appomattox Court House and the new Robert E. Lee Special Collection. At 6 p.m. we will gather to view a livestream of A Convulsion at Appomattox with Dr. David Silkenat.
Dr. Silkenat is the author of several books, including most recently Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South (2022) and Raising the White Flag: How Surrender Defined the American Civil War (2019). He is a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of the American Civil War and the Cambridge History of the American Civil War and has been published regularly and widely in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Silkenat served as Chair of the Scottish Association for the Study of America (2018-22), on the executive committee of the Society of Civil War Historians, and on the editorial boards of The Journal of the Civil War Era and American Nineteenth Century History.
Before joining the University of Florida in the fall 2024, Dr. Silkenat was Professor of United States History at the University of Edinburgh (2013-2024) and Assistant Professor of History and Education at North Dakota State University (2008-2013). He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his doctorate from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
This is a virtual event with a special in-person viewing opportunity. Advance registration is required. The Zoom information will be shared prior to the event.
Reception, Special Viewing, and Livestream of Virtual Lecture with Dr. Gordon Blaine Steffey at Stratford Hall – $10
Virtual Lecture – $5
Register in advance: https://www.simpletix.com/e/a-convulsion-at-appomattox-robert-e-lee-u-tickets-205288

Stratford Hall's Brews & BBQ Festival
2025-04-05 11:00 - 18:00 | Virginia
Enjoy an incredible line-up of craft brews, wines, spirits, barbecue, live music, and more. A festival ticket lets you roam freely between vendors, as you explore their unique offerings—each pour is just a purchase away, with breweries selling 16oz pours for $8 per glass.
Be among the first 1,500 ticket purchases to receive a souvenir glass! (Free glass for early bird and adult general admission ticket purchases.) With your ticket, you’ll have access to BBQ pitmasters serving up mouthwatering barbecue, craft brews, local wineries, spirits, a spread of other local fare and sweet treats, artisan vendors, and live music. Wander the gardens and explore the c. 1738 Great House’s top floor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Festival. Then head over to the car show to see the Victory 7 Mustang Car Club. Discover the best of Virginia’s brews, wines, bites, and shopping—with each pour and plate available for purchase, immerse yourself in the region’s unique flavors and finds.
ONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE ENDED.
General Admission tickets may be purchased at the festival entrance for $45.
$10 for ages 6-13
$5 for ages 5 and under
For additional information on this year’s Festival, visit: https://www.stratfordhall.org/brewsbbqfestival2025/

What to Expect at the Festival
Brews, Wines, and Spirits:
Copper Fox Distillery, The Estate at White Hall Vineyard, General’s Ridge Vineyard, Horton Vineyards, Ice House Brewery, Mattaponi Winery, Rogers Ford Farm Winery, Sumerduck Craft Brewery, Virago Spirits, and Al Pugh Distributing Company, Inc.
Barbecue and Food:
Chillin’ and Grillin’ Shack, The Four Cardinals, Gregory’s Grill, Sara Festivals, Sweet Izzy’s Kettle Corn, Segar’s Legacy Event Center – Restaurant & Catering, Team Carolina BBQ, Tilly’s Homemade Ice Cream, and True Blue BBQ
Live Music Schedule:
11:15 a.m. Tommy Filkoski
12:30 p.m. Hard to Tell Band
2:00 p.m. Taboo
4:00 p.m. Tyler Nichols
Activities Included with Admission:
Tour the Great House – Upper level open until 2 p.m.
AIM HIT GO – Free video game play on various consoles
Car Show – Victory 7 Mustang Car Club
Jumbo Yard Games – Corn hole, tumbling timbers, and ring toss

Thank you to our 2025 Brews & BBQ Festival Sponsors
Gold Sponsors: Clements Tent Rentals | Local Services, LLC | River City Golf Carts
Silver Sponsors: The Dove Team – Keller Williams Rivers & Bay | Patrick Stone State Farm

Country Breakfast Buffet by 1710 Tavern
2025-04-05 08:30 - 09:30 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Prior to joining us for the Brews & BBQ Festival, enjoy a traditional country breakfast prepared by 1710 Tavern on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Breakfast will be available 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. in the Stratford Hall Dining Room. Advance registration is required.
Menu:
Sausage Gravy & Biscuits
Scrambled Eggs
Bacon
Sausage
Grits
Yogurt Bar
Served with coffee, tea, orange juice & apple juice
$20 for adults (ages 14+)
$10 for children (ages 6-13)
Free for children 5 & under
Included with lodging reservations for guests staying overnight April 4 (Advance registration not required for lodging guests)
Make your reservations for the Country Breakfast today: https://www.simpletix.com/e/country-breakfast-buffet-at-stratford-hall-tickets-201351

"Reclaiming Women's Power in the American Revolutionary Era" with Dr. Jacqueline Beatty
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
Join Stratford Hall for the virtual lecture “Reclaiming Women’s Power in the American Revolutionary Era” with Dr. Jacqueline Beatty.
Dr. Jacqueline Beatty is an Associate Professor of History at York College of Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses in Early American, Women’s and Gender, and Public History. Her 2023 book In Dependence: Women and the Patriarchal State in Revolutionary America explores the ways in which women in Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston manipulated their legal, social, and economic positions of dependence and turned these constraints into vehicles of female empowerment. Dr. Beatty’s published scholarship also includes “A Revolution of One’s Own” in The American Historian (Spring 2024) and “Complicated Allegiances: Women, Politics, and Property in Post-Occupation Charleston,” in Holly Mayer, ed., Women Waging War in the American Revolution (UVA Press, 2022). Her publicly-engaged work may be encountered in The Washington Post and Time and in C-SPAN’s Lectures in History Program.
This is a virtual lecture taking place on Zoom. Advance registration is required. The Zoom information will be shared prior to the event.
Virtual Lecture – $5
Register in advance: https://www.simpletix.com/e/reclaiming-womens-power-in-the-american-r-tickets-202280

St. Patrick's Dinner Catered by 1710 Tavern
2025-03-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Stratford Hall as you enjoy a four-course dinner by 1710 Tavern of Tappahannock in the Stratford Hall Dining Room on Saturday, March 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Make your reservations today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/StPatricksDinner.
Reservations end March 7th at noon.
St. Patrick’s Dinner Menu
$99 per person (includes meal, iced tea, coffee, tax, and gratuity)
Salad
Irish Flag Clementine Cucumber Salad
Soup
Irish Beer Cheese Soup
Entree (select one of the following)
Irish Corned Beef
Shepherd’s Pie
Risotto Al Fungi
Dessert
Irish Bread Pudding
Wine, beer, and cocktails available for purchase.
Wine by the Bottle
Order in advance to ensure availability
White Wines
La Doria Moscato, Germany 2022 (28)
Hubert Brochard, Sancerre, France 2022 (66)
The Vice “Elise” Chardonnay, Napa Valley, CA 2022 (59)
Joseph Drouhin Macon Village Chardonnay, France 2022 (45)
Marco Felluga Mongris Pinot Grigio, Collie, Italy 2022 (40)
Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne, France (110)

Red Wines
Pike Road Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023 (51)
Chanzy Mercurey Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France 2021 (70)
Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, CA 2022 (45)
Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA 2019 (62)
Mathews Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombia Valley, WA 2021 (88)
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA 2022 (195)
Zuccardi Q Malbec, Argentina 2022 (39)
Please contact Alex Carter with questions.
