Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial
Red Hill, 2016
Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial Location in the United States
Location	Charlotte County, Virginia, United States
Nearest city	Lynchburg, Virginia
Area	1,000 acres (4.046 km²)
Designation	U.S. National Memorial
Authorized	99th U.S. Congress
Governing body	Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation
Website	Red Hill

Red Hill
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Memorial

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Nearest city	Lynchburg, Virginia
Area	1,000 acres (400 ha)
Architect	Stanhope Johnson
Architectural style	Colonial
Restored	1950s and 1960s
Restored by	Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation
Website	Red Hill
NRHP reference No.	78003012
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 14, 1978

Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial is also known as Patrick Henry's Red Hill. It is located in Charlotte County, Virginia, near the town of Brookneal, Virginia. This special place was the last home and burial site of Patrick Henry. He was an important Founding Father and a powerful speaker during the American Revolution. You might know his famous words: "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Patrick Henry bought Red Hill in 1794 when he retired. He lived there with his wife, Dorothea, and their children until he passed away in 1799. The property included a main house and a separate building where he worked as a lawyer. There were also other buildings and areas for enslaved people on the large 2,930-acre tobacco farm. The farm was located by the Staunton River, which was important for moving goods.

Discovering Patrick Henry's Home
- Preserving History at Red Hill
- Treasures from Patrick Henry's Life
Gallery
See also

Discovering Patrick Henry's Home

Red Hill is a place where you can learn about Patrick Henry's life. It helps us understand his role in American history. The site is managed by a special group that keeps his memory alive.

Preserving History at Red Hill

The idea for a national monument for Patrick Henry started in 1935. However, the government did not buy the land then. So, a group called the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation took over in 1944.

In the 1950s and 1960s, this foundation worked hard to restore Henry's law office. They also protected his grave on the property. They even rebuilt his last home and other important buildings. In 1976, a new museum was built to help visitors learn about his life.

Red Hill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a very important historical site. In 1986, the United States Congress officially made it a national memorial.

Today, the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation still owns Red Hill. It operates as a house museum. It also works with the National Park Service to preserve and share its history. This partnership helps ensure the site is well-cared for.

In the 2000s, plans were made to improve the site for visitors. For example, in 2006, new walking trails were added. These trails help people understand how goods were transported and how farming worked in the 1700s. They show how the river, a ferry, and later a railroad stop were used.

In 2018, the Foundation bought more land called the "Quarter Place." This area was once home to enslaved people and later free Black families. It has one of the largest cemeteries for enslaved people in Virginia. The remains of 147 people are buried there.

The Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation now looks after about 1,000 acres of Henry's original land.

Treasures from Patrick Henry's Life

Red Hill has the largest collection of Patrick Henry's belongings in the United States. These include important papers, furniture, personal items, and art. In total, the museum holds about 3,000 objects related to Henry and Red Hill's history.

Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses (1851) by Peter F. Rothermel is on display at Red Hill.

A very special item is a painting by Peter F. Rothermel. It is called Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses and was painted in 1851. This painting was given to the Foundation in 1959. You can see it in a special exhibit at the museum. Other important items include the paper cutter Henry held during his famous "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech. You can also see the last letter he ever wrote.