Belvoir

Belvoir, meaning "beautiful to see," was built about 1741 for William Fairfax, land agent for his cousin Thomas, sixth baron Fairfax of Cameron and Northern Neck proprietor. George Washington was introduced to Belvoir and its gentry culture while in his ...

Fort Belvoir

Fort Belvoir is named for the 18th-century plantation that was owned by William Fairfax. The house burned in 1783. The U.S. War Department acquired much of the Belvoir tract in 1912 as a training center and named it Camp A. ...

Slavery and Belvoir

Little is known about the slaves and slave life at Belvoir. The manor was constructed at a time when wealthy Virginia farmers used slave labor as a diversified agricultural regime. Slaves also worked as skilled tradesmen in the countryside and ...

Gardens and Kitchen at Belvoir

Ornamental courtyard gardens were a luxury to create and maintain. The presence of a courtyard garden on an estate indicated the owners were wealthy, educated people. Records show that the garden layout was based upon a garden in Sterling, Scotland. ...

Life at Belvoir

Belvoir bustled with activities typical of estates during this era. Family members, slaves, and guests were part of daily life at Belvoir. Nearby plantation residents traveled in the same circles, the Fairfaxes, the Washingtons, and the Masons were active in ...

Belvoir

When William Fairfax came to Virginia, he brought many strong English traditions with him. The manor and grounds of Belvoir were laid out similarly to English estates. The brick, Georgian manor was the most sought after and fashionable architectural style ...

The Army Comes to Belvoir

By 1910, the area including Belvoir was sold to the US Government. In 1912, the land was transferred to the War Department, designated for use as an Army training site, and was first used in 1915. By 1918, the area ...

Belvoir Grounds and Potomac View Trail

The Northern Neck Land Grant

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The Northern Neck Land Grant

A proprietary was land granted to a loyal subject of the King. The Proprietor was permitted to subdivide the land and grant, sell or give it to others. In 1649, King ...