Stratford Hall Historic Preserve

Wind Down Wednesday: Open Air Concert Series
2025-06-11 17:30 - 20:00 UTC | 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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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
2025-09-28 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.

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
2025-10-11 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.

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.

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.

Museum Store Sunday 2025
2025-11-30 10:00 - 17:00 | 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.

Christmastide 2025
2025-12-13 16:00 - 19:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Make your holiday season historic this year!
Stroll through Stratford Hall’s charming buildings and grounds decorated in authentic holiday spirit, listen to colonial music by Ampersand, and learn about 18th-century traditions and foodways from historic interpreters. Don’t forget to take a scenic tractor wagon ride around the twilight grounds. Children can even take home tin-punch and button ornaments to remember the occasion!
Get tickets on our official SimpleTix page.
Adults & Children ages 14 and older: $25
Children, ages 6-13: $12
Children, ages 5 & under: FREE
Friends of Stratford Members: FREE
Online ticket sales will close at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 13th. Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center. Friends of Stratford members are encouraged to redeem their free admission by bringing identification to the Visitor Center or to RSVP by calling (804) 493-8919 or emailing Development@StratfordHall.org.

Complete Your Holiday Shopping at Stratford Hall’s Gift Shop
Stop by the Gift Shop for holiday shopping with a signature Stratford Hall Gift Basket, stocking stuffers, and much more. Visitors will receive a 10% discount in the Gift Shop and Friends of Stratford Members will receive a 20% discount on purchases.

Holiday Sip & Shop on Friday, December 12, 2025: 4 – 6 PM (Friends of Stratford Member Exclusive)
Join us for an exclusive Friends of Stratford holiday shopping experience with festive food & beverage tastings and a 20% discount throughout the store. Reserve your spot at this special event by phone (804) 493-8919, or by emailing RPitts@StratfordHall.org. Come for shopping, and stay for dinner!

Christmastide Dinner with the 1710 Tavern
Friday, December 12, 2025: 6 PM (Friends of Stratford Member Exclusive)
Saturday, December 13, 2025: 6 PM
Make it an evening to remember with a five-course dinner by the renowned 1710 Tavern in the Stratford Hall Dining Room! $99 per person (includes meal, tax, and gratuity). Reservation required, limited availability. A maximum of six guests are welcome per reservation. Wine, beer, and cocktails will be available for purchase with a valid ID.
Make your reservation now!

Discount Admission Day - Band of Brothers: The Lee Men of Stratford Hall
2026-01-17 10:00 - 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Enjoy $5 admission for the Band of Brothers: The Lee Men of Stratford Hall self-guided audio tour to commemorate the birth month of Richard Henry Lee, Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee III, and Robert E. Lee!
Get tickets online here.
Preregistration is not required. Tickets are available at Stratford Hall the day of the event.
$5.00 for ages 6+ (House and Grounds)
Free for Children 5 and under and for Friends of Stratford
Last Great House entry is at 4 p.m. Audio tours are valid on the date of purchase and are 60 – 75 minutes in duration. Please plan accordingly.
With an audio tour ticket, you can also enjoy the hiking trails, public beach area, gardens, public grounds, Visitor Center, and Gift Shop.

2026 Annual Lee Lecture with Dr. Edward G. Lengel
2026-01-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
“The Road Home: Light-Horse Harry Lee’s Return from the Revolutionary War”
2026 Annual Lee Lecture with Dr. Edward G. Lengel
January 18, 2026 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Stratford Hall Council House, $10 ($5 for Friends of Stratford members)
BUY TICKETS HERE
War hero. Virginia Governor. Father of Robert E. Lee. In advance of his new book on Henry Lee III, Dr. Edward G. Lengel will help us to understand the challenges “Light-Horse Harry” Lee faced in his personal life, business, and the young country’s fiercely divided politics in the 1780s and 1790s. Join us in the Council House for this can’t-miss lecture to start off America’s Semiquincenntial at Stratford Hall.
Please Note: Online ticket sales will close at 12 noon on Sunday, January 18. In-person admission may be purchased in the Visitor Center from 10 am to 1:30 pm or at the Stratford Hall Council House after 1:30 pm (card only).
This lecture may be joined virtually, in which case a Zoom Webinar link will be sent to registrants who select “Virtual Admission” prior to the event. Members can receive their discount code by calling (804) 493-8919 or emailing rpitts@stratfordhall.org.
Edward G. Lengel is an award-winning historian and educator. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he directed the Washington Papers Project for many years, and subsequently worked in senior positions in the public history field. Also a professional author, speaker and battlefield tour guide, Lengel has written fourteen books on American history. These include the official history of Colonial Williamsburg; General George Washington: A Military Life; To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918; and Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War’s Lost Battalion. Lengel is a co-recipient of the National Humanities Medal and has won two writing awards from the Army Historical Foundation. He makes frequent television and radio appearances.
Be sure to enjoy $5 admission on the day before, Saturday, January 17 for the Band of Brothers: The Lee Men of Stratford Hall self-guided audio tour to commemorate the birth month of Richard Henry Lee, Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee III, and Robert E. Lee!

2026 Black History Month Lecture with Dr. Seth E. Rockman
2026-02-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Virginia
2026 Black History Month Lecture with Dr. Seth E. Rockman
February 8, 2026 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Virtual, $5
GET TICKETS HERE
We’re excited to host Dr. Seth E. Rockman for our annual Black History Month Lecture on Sunday, February 8 at 2 p.m. He will present virtually on his 2024 book Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery, a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist in History. Registrants will be sent a Zoom link prior to the lecture.
Seth E. Rockman is a historian of the United States focusing on the period between the American Revolution and the Civil War. His research unfolds at the intersection of slavery studies, labor history, material culture studies, and the history of capitalism. Rockman’s earlier work— the award-winning Scraping By: Wage Labor, Slavery, and Survival in Early Baltimore (2009) and the co-edited volume Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development (2016)— sought to better understand the relationship of slavery and capitalism in the American past.
On Saturday, February 14, enjoy $5 admission for The Crossroads: African & African American Culture at Stratford Hall self-guided audio tour in recognition of Black History Month and to commemorate Frederick Douglass’ birthday!

Discount Admission Day - The Crossroads: African & African American Culture at Stratford Hall
2026-02-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Enjoy $5 admission for The Crossroads: African & African American Culture at Stratford Hall self-guided audio tour in recognition of Black History Month and to commemorate Frederick Douglass’ birthday!
Get online tickets here.
Preregistration is not required. Tickets are available at Stratford Hall the day of the event.
$5.00 for ages 6+ (House and Grounds)
Free for Children 5 and under and for Friends of Stratford
Last Great House entry is at 4 p.m. Audio tours are valid on the date of purchase and are 60 – 75 minutes in duration. Please plan accordingly.
With an audio tour ticket, you can also enjoy the hiking trails, public beach area, gardens, public grounds, Visitor Center, and Gift Shop.

Arthur Lee: The Unknown Revolutionary
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Virginia
He was a spy, propagandist, and diplomat who played a critical role during the American Revolution, yet Arthur Lee remains unheralded among Revolutionary figures.
Join Encyclopedia Virginia Managing Editor Patti Miller and Gordon Blaine Steffey of Stratford Hall to discover the fascinating life of Arthur Lee.
Register for free with Encyclopedia Virginia

Discount Admission Day - Leading Ladies: The Lee Women of Stratford Hall
2026-03-08 10:00 - 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Enjoy $5 admission for the Leading Ladies: The Lee Women of Stratford Hall self-guided audio tour in recognition of Women’s History Month and to commemorate International Women’s Day!
Get online tickets here.
Preregistration is not required. Tickets are available at Stratford Hall the day of the event.
$5.00 for ages 6+ (House and Grounds)
Free for Children 5 and under and for Friends of Stratford
Last Great House entry is at 4 p.m. Audio tours are valid on the date of purchase and are 60 – 75 minutes in duration. Please plan accordingly.
With an audio tour ticket, you can also enjoy the hiking trails, public beach area, gardens, public grounds, Visitor Center, and Gift Shop.

Fossil Club Meeting
2026-03-15 12:30 - 14:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Stratford Hall is pleased to host the inaugural meeting of its new Fossil Club on Sunday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. in the Jessie Ball DuPont Memorial Library. Meet our paleo volunteers, share treasures, solve mysteries, and hatch a plan for prehistoric pursuits! Stay for a mystery lecture at 2 p.m. from one of our volunteers!
Register to receive updates on our Fossil Excursion events!

2026 Women's History Month Lecture with Dr. Laura F. Edwards
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Virginia
2026 Women’s History Month Lecture with Dr. Laura F. Edwards
March 22, 2026 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Virtual, $5
GET TICKETS HERE
Make plans to attend our annual Women’s History Month Lecture on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.! This special lecture will be given virtually by Dr. Laura F. Edwards on her 2022 history Only the Clothes on Her Back: Clothing and the Hidden History of Power in the Nineteenth-Century United States. Registrants will be sent a Zoom link prior to the lecture.
Laura F. Edwards is a legal historian whose research focuses on the nineteenth-century United States. She holds a B.A. in American Culture from Northwestern University, a Ph.D. in History from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and taught at Duke University for twenty years before coming to Princeton. She is the author of four other books: Gendered Strife and Confusion: The Political Culture of Reconstruction (1997), Scarlet Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: Southern Women in the Civil War Era (2001); The People and Their Peace: Legal Culture and the Transformation of Inequality in the Post-Revolutionary South (2009), and A Legal History of the Civil War and Reconstruction: A Nation of Rights (2015).

Bunny Breakfast Buffet 2026
2026-04-04 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
GET TICKETS
Don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures with the Easter Bunny throughout breakfast.
Space is limited and advance registrations will close Friday, March 27.
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. RSVP to let us know you’re coming! Does not include entrance to the Bunny Breakfast or the historic Great House.
Easter activities from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the Easter Egg Hunt beginning promptly at 11:00 a.m.
Don’t miss out on the joy and egg-citement of our Easter Eggstravaganza and Bunny Breakfast!

Easter Eggstravaganza 2026
2026-04-04 10:00 - 13:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Join Stratford Hall and the local Northern Neck Lodge No. 32 of the Fraternal Order of Police for a free Easter Eggstravaganza, including egg hunt and activities, on the Great House Oval! 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. Courtesy of Northern Neck Lodge No. 32 of the Fraternal Order of Police.
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.
Be sure to drop off your empty eggs before you leave!

Admission and activities for the Easter Eggstravaganza are free, though we’d love to know you’re coming!
RSVP TODAY!
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!

Plant Sale
2026-04-04 10:00 - 2026-04-26 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
During your next stop at Stratford Hall, be sure to visit the Gift Shop to explore our Plant Sale options available April 4 – 26! We’ll have heirloom vegetables, culinary herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs–all straight from the Stratford Hall greenhouse. The selection of plants will vary during the sale, so come back weekly for new items!
Gift Shop Hours April 4 – May 26:
Monday – Friday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission is not required to visit the Gift Shop or Plant Sale.

Historic Garden Week in the Northern Neck
2026-04-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, Virginia, 22558
Stratford Hall is honored to once again participate in the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week! On Wednesday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Garden Club of the Northern Neck ticket holders receive FREE grounds admission (Great House self-guided audio tours not included). Simply arrive at the Visitor Center and show your ticket! Explore the restored East Garden and browse our Plant Sale, offered April 4 – 26. A selection of heirloom vegetables, culinary herbs, perennials, trees, and shrubs–straight from the Stratford Hall greenhouse–will be on sale at the Gift Shop. The selection of plants will vary during the sale, so come back weekly for new items!
To learn more and join the tour, visit gcvirginia.org/historic-garden-week/tours/northern-neck. For questions, please contact northernneck@vagardenweek.org.
Guests interested in purchasing admission to the Great House are encouraged to visit our ticketing page or the Stratford Hall Visitor Center.

Stratford Hall’s gardens have a long and rich history. When the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation signed an agreement with The Garden Club of Virginia in 1929 to restore the gardens at Stratford Hall, all that remained of the East Garden was a flat area overgrown with weeds, a few ancient beech trees, and a crumbling brick wall of uncertain origins. But we know from a letter written in 1790 by Thomas Lee Shippen, grandson of Stratford Hall’s builder, that there were “gardens, vineyards, orangeries and lawns which surround the house.”
In 1933, the Garden Club of Virginia installed a boxwood garden to the east of the Great House. This marked the Club’s second restoration and was designed by Morley J. Williams, nicknamed the father of Colonial Revival gardens.
The East Garden has been modified over the years with the most recent work, based on archaeology and research, completed in the summer of 2019. Working in conjunction with landscape architect firm Rieley and Associates of Charlottesville VA, the Garden Club of Virginia and Stratford Hall completed the restoration of the upper tier of the East Garden according to a design of a mid-18th century plantation garden.
The garden currently showcases juxtaposed authentic 18th-century and Colonial Revival garden designs. Fruit trees, annuals, perennials, and heirloom vegetables have been planted to complete the restoration showcasing one of the most visually stunning and accurate displays of 18th-century landscape in the country.
