| Habre-de-Venture; Thomas Stone National Historic Site | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| U.S. National Historic Site | |
| U.S. National Historic Landmark | |
 Habre de Venture, Front View, September 2009
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| Location: | 6655 Rose Hill Rd., near jct. with MD 225 and 6, Port Tobacco, Maryland |
| Coordinates: | 38°31′55″N 77°1′53″W / 38.53194°N 77.03139°W |
| Area: | 360 acres[1] |
| Built/Founded: | 1771 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | Georgian |
| Visitation: | 4,500 (2005) |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
| Added to NRHP: | October 31, 1972[2] |
| Designated NHS: | November 10, 1978 |
| Designated NHL: | November 11, 1971[3] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 72001595 |
| Thomas Stone National Historic Site | |
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| Location | Charles County, Maryland |
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| Nearest city | St. Charles |
| Coordinates | 38°31′53″N 77°02′10″W / 38.53139°N 77.03611°WCoordinates: 38°31′53″N 77°02′10″W / 38.53139°N 77.03611°W |
| Area | 328 acres (1.33 km²) |
| Established | November 10, 1978 |
| Visitors | 4,500 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
The Thomas Stone National Historic Site, also known as Habre de Venture or Thomas Stone House, is a United States National Historic Site located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Washington D.C. in Charles County, Maryland. The site was established to protect the home and property of Thomas Stone, one of the 56 signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. His home and estate were owned by the Stone family until 1936.
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History
Stone purchased Habre de Venture in 1770 and began construction of a new home in 1771. Stone's original plan was to build a small, modest home for him, his wife, and their two daughters but before the house was completed, his father died and five of his younger brothers and sisters came to live with him at Habre de Venture creating the need for larger living quarters. During the 1780s, the Habre de Venture plantation probably supported about 25 to 35 people including a number of slaves. By the time of Stone's death in 1787, Habre de Venture had increased in size from 442 acres (1.79 km²) to 1077 acres (4.36 km²). Stone was buried in the family cemetery adjacent to his home.
Descendants of Thomas Stone continued to own Habre de Venture until 1936 when the land was sold.
The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.[1][3]
The property was privately owned until 1977 when a fire severely damaged the central section of the house. Habre de Venture was authorized as a National Historic Site a year later in 1978 and was purchased by the National Park Service in 1981. Restoration efforts on the historic structures began at this time but the house was not opened to the public until 1997.
Today, a visitor center located at the site has exhibits on the Declaration of Independence and the life of Thomas Stone. Guided tours of Habre de Venture are also offered. In 2008, the Thomas Stone National Historic Site ranked 344th among 360 sites where the National Park Service tracks attendance with 5,720 visitors.[4]
Gallery
 Habre de Venture, Front, Winter View |
 Habre de Venture, Rear View, September 2009 |
 Habre de Venture, Detail of Original Home, September 2009 |
 Grave of Thomas Stone, September 2009 |
References
- ^ a b Charles W. Snell (May 27, 1971). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Habre-de-Venture (Thomas Stone House)PDF (32 KB). National Park Service. and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19PDF (32 KB)
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
- ^ a b "Habre-De-Venture". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1106&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- ^ "Humble Md. Park Typifies Shift From Scenic to Cerebral: National System 'Uniquely American,' Unevenly Attended," By David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post, September 26, 2009.
External links
- National Park Service: Thomas Stone National Historic Site
- Habre de Venture, Charles County, including undated photo, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Habre de Venture, Rose Hill Road, La Plata vicinity, Charles County, MD: 14 drawings, 5 photos, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey
- Habre de Venture, Tenant House, Rose Hill Road, La Plata vicinity, Charles County, MD: 2 drawings, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey
- Habre de Venture, Wagon House, Rose Hill Road, La Plata vicinity, Charles County, MD: 1 drawing, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey
- Habre de Venture, Main Barn, Rose Hill Road, La Plata vicinity, Charles County, MD: 5 drawings, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey
- Habre de Venture, Corn Crib, Rose Hill Road, La Plata vicinity, Charles County, MD: 3 drawings, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey
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