Gazing upon Salona, one can almost hear the echoes of history whispering through the Virginia air. Salona, nestled in McLean, is more than just a former plantation house. It’s a time capsule, holding within its walls stories of political intrigue, wartime refuge, and the enduring legacy of a prominent Virginia family. Salona derives its name from an earlier homestead and means “just hospitality.” The current brick manor house, a testament to Federal-style architecture, was constructed between 1790 and 1810. It was owned by Richard Bland Lee, a planter and politician who served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the brother of Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, the famed Revolutionary War cavalry officer, and Charles Lee, Attorney General under Presidents Washington and Adams. Richard Bland Lee donated Salona in 1812 to Reverend William Maffitt, who had married Lee’s widowed sister-in-law. Imagine the scene in August 1814. The British are burning Washington, D.C., and President James Madison flees the chaos, finding refuge at Salona. First Lady Dolley Madison, escaping separately, rejoins him at this very spot. Today, Route 123, which fronts Salona, is known locally as “Dolley Madison Boulevard” in honor of this dramatic historical footnote. Years later, during the Civil War, the Union Army established Camp Griffin on the Salona grounds and the surrounding area. The mansion served as headquarters for General George B. McClellan and other Union commanders. Salona, having witnessed such pivotal moments in American history, stands as a silent observer, its walls steeped in the stories of those who walked its halls. The next time you pass by Salona, remember the refuge it offered a fleeing president, the strategies planned within its walls during wartime, and the enduring legacy of the Lee family. It serves as a powerful reminder of the rich tapestry of American history woven into the very fabric of this land.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to