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Oatlands

Historic House and Gardens

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Parallax History: Then & Now

Oatlands begins…

In 1798 a young bachelor named George Carter inherited 3,408 acres of prime Loudoun County, Virginia farmland.  Carter was a descendant of one of Virginia’s first families.  Oatlands based its plantation economy on wheat production, and eventually Carter branched out to grow other small grains; raise sheep for their wool; and build a mill complex on nearby Goose Creek.  The success of Oatlands depended upon a slave economy; by 1860, the enslaved community at Oatlands numbered 133 men, women, and children.  

Read more about the Carter era >

In 1903 prominent Washingtonians, William Corcoran Eustis, and his wife Edith Morton Eustis purchased Oatlands as their country home.  William was a grandson of Washington philanthropist William Wilson Corcoran, and Edith was the eldest daughter of Vice President Levi P. Morton.  Following Edith’s passing in 1964, the family donated the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1965.  Oatlands is a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation given by the National Park Service. 

Carriage House
George Carter
Edith Eustis

Find out more about Oatlands at these sites:

Library of Congress
National Trust for Historic Preservation
David Finley Papers

Read the new blog about Archives and Preservation:

Oatlands Originals

Historic Structures

Smokehouse
Smokehouse
Bachelor’s Cottage
Mt. Gap School
Mt. Gap School
Foxes
Nature & Wildlife
Mansion
Ken Garrett
Equestrian, Biking and Hiking Trails
Carriage House
Carriage House
Ken Garrett Greenhouse
Greenhouse
Oatlands circa 1821 Garden Dependencies
Walled Garden
Carter Barn
Carter Barn

Preservation Projects

Bachelor Cottage Roof before repairs
Bachelor’s Cottage and Pump House Roofs
Mansion West Side Entrance
Greenhouse Roof
Sundial Stabilization
Barn Exterior
Mansion Roof
Carriage House Front Door
Teahouse
Bachelor’s Cottage Exterior
Mansion Exterior
Mt. Gap Schoolhouse

Nature & Conservation

  • The great spangled fritillary is a frequent flyer in the formal gardens.
  • From big to small, we’ve got ‘em all! These praying mantis hatchlings feed on flies and other tiny fellow insects. Did you know they are the only insect able to turn their head 180 degrees?
  • Uh-oh! One of our fence posts fell out of place, but when staff went to replace the beam, they found a female eastern Hercules beetle! Nocturnal, or crepuscular, these beetles come out at night or are active at dawn or dusk.
  • This lovely lady is an eastern box turtle. If you help a turtle cross a road, always take them in the direction they are facing- these are animals that move with a purpose. Turtles have an innate compass that tells them exactly where they need to go.
  • Garden Grey Treefrog
    The mottled colors of the grey tree frog are meant to act as camouflage, but against the boxwoods, this guy stands out!
The Carter Era

The Carter Era

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V I S I T   O A T L A N D S

Garden & Grounds open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. Purchase tickets here.

Guided Tours by appointment.

Last tour at 3:00 p.m.

20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane
Leesburg, VA 20175
Tel: 703-727-0670

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