What if these walls could talk? Oatlands Mansion stands as a testament to a rich and complex history. This historic site operates as a museum today. It is a landmark that whispers tales of early American life.
Oatlands Plantation began in 1798. George Carter established it as a farming property. The land spanned about 3,500 acres. Carter was a descendant of the prominent Carter family. They were among the first to settle in Virginia from Europe. His ancestors arrived in 1649.
Construction of the magnificent home started in 1804. Carter initially planned a Federal-style mansion. He changed his mind midway. He opted for a Greek Revival style. The home’s completion took decades. The post-recession after the War of 1812 diverted Carter’s attention. Oatlands was finally completed in 1835.
That same year Carter married Elizabeth Grayson Lewis. He was 58. The couple had two sons. After Carter’s death in 1846, Elizabeth and her sons managed Oatlands. The Civil War brought hardship. Oatlands relied on slave labor. The plantation’s operations changed. Carter strongly supported slavery. His father had fought against it.
Over the years, Oatlands served different purposes. It was a girls’ boarding school. Later, it became a bed and breakfast.
In 1897, the Carters sold the home to Stilson Hutchins. He founded the Washington Post. Hutchins never lived at Oatlands. He owned the property for only a few years.
William Corcoran Eustis and his wife, Edith Livingston Morton, bought Oatlands in 1903. They were a wealthy couple from Washington, D.C. William Eustis used Oatlands as a vacation home. He was an enthusiastic horseman. He loved fox hunting and hosted events there.
Edith Eustis had a close friendship with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They grew up together in New York. FDR frequently visited Oatlands. Edith dedicated herself to restoring Oatlands’ elaborate gardens. She paid great attention to detail. She incorporated many modern designs. Today, visitors see the results of her hard work.
Edith passed away in 1964. Her children donated Oatlands to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The original greenhouse still stands. Oatlands says it is the second oldest in the U.S. and the oldest in the South. A bachelor’s cottage built in 1820 also remains. You can visit the greenhouse. The bachelor’s cottage is closed.
In May 2014, Oatlands acquired 54 adjacent acres called “Oatlands Hamlet.” It was originally part of the plantation. It contains two historic stone houses. One house may have been a dairy. Anne Eustis later converted it into a house.
Oatlands’ history goes back to Robert “King” Carter. He purchased land for his son, Robert II. At his death in 1732, King Carter owned about 300,000 acres. He enslaved approximately 3,000 people. Robert Carter III was King Carter’s grandson. He served on the Governor’s council. He earned the nickname “Councilor.”
Councilor inherited a large landholding in Loudoun County. He leased the land to tenant farmers. Some farmers used enslaved labor. Councilor came to view slavery as immoral. In 1791, he filed a Deed of Emancipation. It was for the gradual manumission of the people he enslaved. This is believed to be the largest private emancipation in American history.
Construction on the Federal-style mansion began in 1804. Enslaved people made the bricks. Over time, a terraced garden was created. A greenhouse, dairy, smokehouse, and garden dependency were added. A three-story bank barn anchored the agricultural area. A mill complex was built on Goose Creek.
In 1817, George Carter successfully requested a post office. It was established at the mill site. This became a thriving commercial hub. George Carter’s success relied on enslaved labor. They farmed the land. They tended the gardens. They cared for the family. They likely worked at the mills. The number of enslaved people grew.
George remained a bachelor until he married Elizabeth Osborne Grayson Lewis. Her first husband’s will emancipated nine members of the Bryant family. Elizabeth inherited 11 enslaved people. These people were moved to Oatlands.
Elizabeth kept a diary from 1861 to 1872. It recorded the temperature, wind direction, and activities at Oatlands. It provides a glimpse into life during and after the Civil War. After the war, formerly enslaved people embraced freedom. They bought land from the Elgin family. They established the village of Gleedsville.
The Carter family’s fortunes declined. They sold Oatlands in 1897. William and Edith Eustis bought it in 1903. William was an avid equestrian. Edith restored the gardens. The Eustises had five children. Several formerly enslaved people worked for the Eustises.
When Mrs. Eustis passed away in 1964, her daughters donated Oatlands to the National Trust. Oatlands stands as a reminder. It connects us to our past. Researchers are uncovering more about the enslaved people who lived here. Descendants are connecting with their ancestors.