Oak Hill, the 1,240-acre historic estate of former President James Monroe, is now in the hands of The Conservation Fund, which is laying the groundwork for the property to become a Virginia state park.
The acquisition of the Northern Virginia property came at a reported final sale price of $52 million – with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors committing $22 million, $6 million in federal funding coming from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a $2 million grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and more than $20 million in fundraising by The Conservation Fund and other groups.
The property had been owned privately by the DeLashmutt family since 1948.
“For over 75 years, Oak Hill has been part of our family’s life and legacy. We’ve always recognized its history and significance reach far beyond us,” family matriarch Gayle DeLashmutt said. “It means a great deal to know this place we’ve cared for so deeply is now in the hands of dedicated stewards who share our hope that Oak Hill’s story will continue to be honored, protected and thoughtfully shared with others.”
Now, indeed, the focus of all involved in this years-long project turns to transferring the private property to the state to get the ball rolling toward adding Oak Hill to the Virginia State Parks system.
“For over 200 years, Oak Hill has stood as a living monument to American history, but its future has long been in question,” said Heather Richards, vice president and Mid-Atlantic regional director at The Conservation Fund. “Thanks to the conservation ethic of the DeLashmutt family and the support of our public and private partners, Oak Hill has the chance to be permanently protected and open to the public – for recreation, for historic preservation and for future generations. We urge Virginia leaders to take the final step and make Oak Hill a state park during the upcoming General Assembly session, ensuring this irreplaceable estate is preserved and accessible to all Americans.”
Yes, there’s a sales-pitch aspect to this news. The Virginia General Assembly and the new governor, Abigail Spanberger, will ultimately have to sign off on the transfer, and the commitment to funding Oak Hill as a state park.
“Securing Oak Hill is an incredible victory for the people of Virginia, but our work is far from done,” Richards said. “We need the support of the people of Virginia and that of our elected leaders in Richmond, including the new governor and the General Assembly, to approve the creation of a new state park at Oak Hill.”
In addition to the acreage, there’s history at Oak Hill – where, in 1823, Monroe drafted the Monroe Doctrine, which told the European powers that the Western Hemisphere was ours going forward.
There’s also the chance to tell the stories of farming on the sprawling property involving locals in the Indigenous and Black communities.
“Preserving Loudoun’s history and telling our full history is important for all who live, work, learn and play in our community, now and in the future,” said Phyllis J. Randall, the chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. “Loudoun County’s support for the purchase of this property demonstrates our commitment to preserving our history. We are grateful for the partnerships with the family, The Conservation Fund, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and all who have made this endeavor possible.”
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Chris Graham
