Westmoreland County History
The Colonial Government at Jamestown established Westmoreland County in 1653. More national leaders were born here than in any other county in the nation. Our native sons include Presidents George Washington and James Monroe, signers of the Declaration of Independence and General Robert E. Lee.

George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Rt. 204, southeast of Oak Grove
George Washington is among Westmoreland County's most famous native sons. Commander of the Continental Army, Revolutionary War hero and first President of the United States, he professed to be first and foremost a farmer. He was born on February 22, 1732 at this site on Pope's Creek.

Leedstown - Bray's Church
Rt. 637, south of Oak Grove
The Leedstown Resolutions are considered the forerunner of the Declaration of Independence. Signed in February 1766, it was the first organized resistance to English aggression against American liberties. Written by Richard Henry Lee, the document was signed by 115 patriots from all over. Among the signers were six Lees, five Washingtons and Spence Monroe, the father of President James Monroe. Once a busy port town on the Rappahannock, all that the remains of the original town is the foundation of Bray's Church.

Birthplace of James Monroe
Rt. 205 between Oak Grove and Colonial Beach James Monroe, the nation's fifth president was born in 1758 on a farm at this location near Monroe Bay. A member of the Continental Congress for three years, he practiced law in Fredericksburg and went on to become a U.S. Senator, Minister to France, Minister to England, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State and President of the United States from 1817-1825.

Stratford Hall Plantation
Off Rt. 3 northeast of Montross on Rt. 214
Stratford Hall Plantation was home to several generations of famous Lees. It was the boyhood home of Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signers of the Declaration of Independence.

General Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee was a Revolutionary War hero in his 20s and served as one of General George Washington's most trusted officers. He was Robert E. Lee's father. After the war he married the heiress to Stratford and served three one-year terms as governor.

General Robert E. Lee was born in 1807 at Stratford Hall. His cradle can be seen on the tour of the Great House. At age 54, Lee was a colonel in the U.S. Army when the Civil War broke out. Refusing to "take part in an invasion" of his homeland, he left the Union Army when Virginia left the United States. He later led Confederate forces against the Union armies. In a letter to his wife, he voiced his dream of one-day returning to Stratford Hall- a dream he never realized.

The Bell House
Irving Ave., Colonial Beach
Built in 1882, this Victorian beach house was once the summer retreat of Alexander Graham Bell, and was also visited by Helen Keller.

Ingleside
Leedstown Road, Oak Grove
This 3000-acre estate is home to three residences listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ingleside is a Classical Revival structure built in 1834 as a private school named "Washington Academy." Nearby Wirtland (c. 1850) stands as an excellent example of Gothic Revival. Roxbury (c. 1861) is a mid-Victorian design popularized by Calvert Vaux and rarely found in the South. Today, the plantation is also home to Ingleside Vineyards and Ingleside Nurseries.

Courthouse Square at Montross
The original courthouse was built in 1707. Extensive remodeling and additions were added in the intervening years. Although no longer used in an official capacity, the old courtroom is still used for special exhibits and cultural events.

Burnt House Field
North of Rt. 202 near Hague
Richard Henry Lee of Chantilly, Thomas Lee of Stratford and Richard Henry Lee of Machotick are buried here in what was Richard Lee's Machotick Plantation. The plantation house burned in 1729.

Yeocomico Church
On Rt. 606 between Kinsale and Tucker Hill
Yeocomico Church is the oldest church in the county and the oldest church in the Northern Neck. Originally built in 1655 of oak timbers sheathed with clapboards, the church was rebuilt in 1706 with bricks fired in a nearby kiln.

Village of Kinsale
Rt. 203, 804-472-3001
Established in 1706, Kinsale is the oldest port on the Virginia side of the Potomac. During the War of 1812 the USS Asp was attacked by British forces just offshore. Her commander, Midshipman James B. Sigourney, was killed defending his vessel. He was buried in Kinsale. The Kinsale Museum traces the village's history from its beginnings as a colonial port, through the bustling steamboat days to the present.

Skipjack "Virginia W"
Rt. 608, Kinsale, 804-472-2044
Built in 1904, the "Virginia W" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This wooden Chesapeake Bay workboat is a rare example of a Virginia-built skipjack. She is on display at the Port Kinsale Maritime Museum at Port Kinsale Marina.

Westmoreland State Park
Off Rt. 3 north of Montross
Westmoreland State Park is one of the six original state parks opened in June 1936. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Situated on the cliffs overlooking the Potomac River, between the birthplaces of two of Virginia's most famous sons, George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the park is rich in both natural and cultural history. In addition its scenic beauty, the park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming.

Westmoreland County Genealogy Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society
The Society maintains a collection of materials for genealogical research and on the history of the Northern Neck. Located on the second floor of Westmoreland County Museum. Patrons should call to confirm hours of operation and availability of research accommodations. 804-493-8440