Wilton House Museum
For more than 100 years, members of the illustrious Randolph family called the Wilton House home. Built circa 1753 for William Randolph III, Wilton was the centerpiece of a 2,000 acre plantation. It was here that the Randolphs entertained some of colonial Virginia's most elite as well as travelers from up and down the Atlantic coast and abroad. Wilton played host to George Washington shortly after Patrick Henry delivered his famous ultimatum, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" In 1781, then governor Thomas Jefferson visited Lafayette who was headquartered at Wilton, while 900 of the General's troops setup camp in the fields in a campaign that would eventually end in victory at Yorktown.
After passing from one generation to the next between 1753 and 1859, Wilton was sold to Col. William C. Knight, to pay off a mounting family debt. The last Randolph owner, Catherine, married Edward Carrington Mayo and moved into neighboring Richmond. Wilton went on to survive the Civil War and change owners another 4 times before going into foreclosure by The Bank of Commerce and Trust during the depth of the Great Depression. In 1932, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia voted to rescue this unique house from falling victim to the wrecking ball. Raising money without the assistance of outside funding, the Dames were able to purchase the house. However, the cost of the original property was would remain out of their reach, forcing them to dismantle the house, purchase the land on which Wilton sits today, and rebuilding it there. At the completion of the moving and rebuilding of the now 180 year old house, Wilton became the new headquarters for the Virginia Dames.
Today, Wilton continues to serve as an outstanding example of Georgian architecture, headquarters of the Virginia Dames, host to many visitors as well as the site of many public programs, educational exhibits, and endless opportunities for education and growth. To find out more about Wilton's events and opportunities
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