Bassett Hall facts for kids
Bassett Hall is an old farmhouse in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was built a long time ago, in the 1700s. This special house was once home to John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. They lived there while they helped bring Colonial Williamsburg back to life.
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What is Bassett Hall?
Bassett Hall was built by a man named Philip Johnson. He was part of the House of Burgesses, which was like an early government group in Virginia. The house was built between 1753 and 1766.
Later, in 1800, Burwell Bassett bought the house. He was the nephew of Martha Washington, America's first First Lady! The house was named after him.
A Famous Visitor During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, a famous soldier named George Armstrong Custer stayed at Bassett Hall for ten days. He was a Union cavalryman, meaning he rode horses in battle. Custer was in Williamsburg to attend a wedding. His friend, who was getting married, was a Confederate soldier who had been hurt in the Battle of Williamsburg.
The Rockefellers' Special Home
In 1926, a local church leader, Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, had a big idea. He wanted to save and fix up the old buildings in Williamsburg. He talked to John D. Rockefeller Jr., who was a very generous person.
Mr. Rockefeller thought about the idea while walking among the trees behind Bassett Hall. He decided to help! Rev. Goodwin then suggested that Mr. Rockefeller buy Bassett Hall for himself. He thought it would be a great place for him to enjoy his vision for Williamsburg.
So, Bassett Hall became the Rockefellers' home. They stayed there twice a year when they visited Williamsburg.
Visiting Bassett Hall Today
The Rockefeller family gave Bassett Hall to Colonial Williamsburg in 1979. Now, anyone can visit the house! It looks almost exactly as it did in the 1930s and 1940s when the Rockefellers lived there.
The gardens around the house are also beautiful. They are designed in a style called Colonial Revival, which means they look like gardens from the colonial times.
