Thomas Stone National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thomas StoneNational Historic Site |
|
|---|---|
 Thomas Stone
National Historic Site Location in Maryland
Thomas Stone
National Historic Site Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Charles County, Maryland |
| Nearest city | St. Charles |
| Established | November 10, 1978 |
| Visitors | 6,351 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Thomas Stone National Historic Site |
|
Habre-de-Venture; Thomas Stone National Historic Site
|
|
Haberdeventure, Front View, September 2009
|
|
| Location | 6655 Rose Hill Rd., near jct. with MD 225 and 6, Port Tobacco, Maryland |
| Area | 360 acres (145.7 ha) |
| Built | 1771 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Visitation | 4,500 (2005) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001595 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1972 |
| Designated NHS | November 10, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | November 11, 1971 |
The Thomas Stone National Historic Site is a special place in Charles County, Maryland, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Washington, D.C.. It is also known as Haberdeventure or the Thomas Stone House. This site protects the home and land of Thomas Stone, who was one of the 56 brave people who signed the United States Declaration of Independence. His family owned this home until 1936.
Contents
The Story of Thomas Stone's Home
Building Haberdeventure
Thomas Stone bought the land for Haberdeventure in 1770. He started building his new home in 1771. His first idea was to build a small house for himself, his wife Margaret, and their two daughters. However, before the house was finished, his father passed away. Five of his younger brothers and sisters then came to live with him at Haberdeventure. This meant he needed a much larger house!
Life on the Plantation
During the 1780s, the Haberdeventure property was a working farm, often called a plantation. About 25 to 35 people lived and worked there. This included Thomas Stone's family and many enslaved people. By the time Thomas Stone died in 1787, the size of Haberdeventure had grown a lot. It went from about 442 acres (1.8 km²) to 1,077 acres (4.3 km²). Thomas Stone was buried in the family cemetery right next to his home.
From Family Home to Historic Site
Thomas Stone's family continued to own Haberdeventure for many years. They sold the land in 1936. In 1971, the house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important place in American history.
The property was still privately owned until 1977. That year, a fire badly damaged the middle part of the house. Just one year later, in 1978, Haberdeventure was made a National Historic Site. The National Park Service bought the property in 1981. They started working to fix up the historic buildings. The house finally opened to the public in 1997.
Visiting the Site Today
Today, you can visit the Thomas Stone National Historic Site. There is a visitor center where you can see exhibits. These exhibits teach you about the Declaration of Independence and the life of Thomas Stone. You can also take a guided tour of the Haberdeventure house. It's a great way to learn about history! In 2008, about 5,720 people visited the site.
Gallery
-
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
