The historic Oak Hill estate in Aldie, Virginia, where President James Monroe once lived, may soon be converted into a state park. The DeLashmutt family, who has owned the estate since 1948, hopes to make this transition happen with the help of The Conservation Fund. The estate is the last home of a presidential Founding Father still in private hands.
The DeLashmutts are looking to sell the property for $20 million, with Loudoun County allocating $22 million and other groups raising nearly $25 million to support the project. The state of Virginia would not have to pay anything towards the acquisition. However, the bill that would allow for this conversion passed in the House of Delegates but failed in the Senate due to concerns about long-term commitments from the state.
The Oak Hill estate holds centuries of history, including the stories of the enslaved African Americans and Indigenous people who lived and worked there. Opening the estate to the public full time would allow for a deeper understanding of these lesser-known histories.
Governor Glenn Youngkin is considering including the Oak Hill estate project in his proposed budget amendment, which is due before the General Assembly’s veto session on Monday. Youngkin is open-minded about the project after touring the estate with Delegate Geary Higgins. The future of the Oak Hill estate remains uncertain, but there is hope that it may soon become a public space for all to enjoy and learn from its rich history.
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