Thomas Stone National Historic Site

The Thomas Stone National Historic Site, also known as Haberdeventure or the Thomas Stone House, is a United States National Historic Site located about 25 miles (40 km) 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.

Thomas Stone
National Historic Site
LocationCharles County, Maryland
Nearest citySt. Charles
Coordinates38°31′52.2″N 77°2′21.3″W
EstablishedNovember 10, 1978
Visitors6,351 (in 2011)
Governing bodyNational Park Service
WebsiteThomas Stone National Historic Site
Habre-de-Venture; Thomas Stone National Historic Site
U.S. National Historic Site
Haberdeventure, Front View, September 2009
Location6655 Rose Hill Rd., near jct. with MD 225 and 6, Port Tobacco, Maryland
Area360 acres (145.7 ha)[1]
Built1771
Architectural styleGeorgian
Visitation4,500 (2005)
NRHP reference No.72001595
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 31, 1972[2]
Designated NHSNovember 10, 1978
Designated NHLNovember 11, 1971[3]

History

Stone purchased Haberdeventure 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 Margaret, 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 Haberdeventure creating the need for larger living quarters. During the 1780s, the Haberdeventure plantation probably supported about 25 to 35 people, including a number of slaves. By the time of Stone's death in 1787, Haberdeventure had increased in size from 442 acres (1.79 km2) to 1,077 acres (4.36 km2). Stone was buried in the family cemetery adjacent to his home.

Descendants of Thomas Stone continued to own Haberdeventure 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. Haberdeventure 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 Haberdeventure 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]

  • Haberdeventure, front, winter view
  • Haberdeventure, rear view, September 2009
  • Haberdeventure, detail of original home, September 2009
  • Grave of Thomas Stone, September 2009
  • Haberdeventure, detail of main house and dependencies, from the north, 26 June 2011
  • Haberdeventure, corn crib, 26 June 2011
  • Artifacts on display in the parlor of the home, July 2016
  • Parlor. Portrait of Margaret Stone is replica of one by Robert Edge Pine. July 2016
  • A view through the bedroom into the parlor, July 2016
  • Bed in bedroom, July 2016
  • Artifacts relating to the life of Thomas Stone, July 2016
  • Pieces of the building's original fabric, burned in the 1977 fire, July 2016
  • The house and outbuildings, June 2009
  • Visitors center, July 2016
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See also

References
  1. Charles W. Snell (May 27, 1971). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Habre-de-Venture (Thomas Stone House)" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19 (32 KB)
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. "Habre-De-Venture". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  4. "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.
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