Wilton House Museum facts for kids
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Wilton
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | S of Richmond, on N bank of James River, Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002231 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
The Wilton House Museum is a museum located in a historic house in Richmond, Virginia. This amazing house was built around 1753 by William Randolph III. He was the son of William Randolph II from Turkey Island.
Wilton was originally the main house on a huge 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) tobacco plantation. This plantation was called "World's End." It was located on the north side of the James River, a few miles east of Richmond. William Randolph III bought many pieces of land between 1747 and 1759. Around 1753, he finished building the beautiful Georgian-style house. He named it "Wilton" because it overlooked the river.
In 1934, something incredible happened. New buildings were starting to appear across the river. The Wilton property was also in danger of being lost. The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia stepped in to save it. They bought the mansion, carefully took it apart, moved it, and rebuilt it! The house was moved a few miles west to a new spot, also overlooking the James River. It's ironic that the original land where Wilton stood is still used for farming today.
Wilton House Museum opened to the public in 1952. Inside, you can see a collection of furniture, fabrics, glass, pottery, and silver from the 1700s and 1800s. These items show what life was like for wealthy plantation owners in the mid-1700s. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Contents
What is Georgian Architecture?
Wilton House is built in the Georgian style. This was a very popular way to design buildings during the Colonial era in America. You could see it in both New England and the Southern colonies.
Colonial Georgian architecture changed a little bit from place to place. This depended on the weather and the building materials available. But generally, Georgian buildings followed a balanced, rectangular design. They had simple, elegant lines. This style was inspired by an older design method called Palladian architecture.
The Story of Wilton House
The Randolph Family Story
In the 1600s, the Randolph family of Virginia was one of the richest and most powerful families in Colonial Virginia. William Randolph and his wife, Mary Isham Randolph, are often called "the Adam and Eve of Virginia." This is because many famous people are their descendants. These include President Thomas Jefferson, Chief Justice John Marshall, and General Robert E. Lee.
Wilton was built around 1753 for William Randolph III and his wife, Anne Harrison Randolph. It stood on a 2,000-acre plantation overlooking the James River. William Randolph III was a planter, which means he owned a plantation. He also served the public. He was a member of the House of Burgesses for Henrico County. He was also an officer in the local army and a church leader.
The Randolph family used the labor of over 100 enslaved African American people to build the house and work on the plantation. This labor helped them grow crops like wheat and tobacco. By the early 1800s, Wilton had the largest enslaved community in Henrico County.
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William Randolph III
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Anne H. Randolph
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Peyton Randolph of Wilton
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William Randolph IV
Here's how Wilton House passed through the Randolph family:
- William Randolph III passed away in 1762 when he was 52. He left Wilton to his 23-year-old son, Peyton Randolph.
- Peyton Randolph died in 1784 at age 46. He left Wilton to his five-year-old son, William Randolph IV.
- William Randolph IV died in 1815 at age 26. He left Wilton to his five-year-old son, Robert Randolph. His mother, Anne Andrews Randolph, managed the plantation while raising him.
- Robert Randolph died in 1839 at age 29. He left Wilton, which had many debts, to his four-year-old daughter, Catherine (Kate).
- Catherine was the last Randolph family member to own Wilton. She decided to sell the house in 1859.
Wilton's Early Years (1700s)
Wilton was first built on a large 2,000-acre tobacco plantation. It was about 9 miles downriver from Richmond. This big, two-story brick house was one of the most important plantation mansions along the James River. William Randolph III inherited land in 1742. He then bought more land, adding to his large property. By 1752, the area around his home was known as "Wilton."
Changes in the 1800s
By the 1830s, Wilton was not doing so well. In 1833, a writer named Catharine Sedgwick visited Wilton. She described "Broken down fences, a falling piazza, defaced paint, banisters ties up with ropes." She also said the house looked like a "forlorn ruin." The value of the Wilton estate dropped a lot between 1832 and 1850.
Because of growing debts, Robert Randolph had to put the plantation into a special trust in 1833 and 1835. When Robert died in 1839, Wilton was heavily in debt. His daughter, Catherine, inherited it. In 1846, Catherine's mother and stepfather decided to divide the property. Wilton was split into two parts.
In 1859, Catherine decided to sell Wilton. The sale was finalized in 1875. Reports showed that the soil on the plantation was not as good as it used to be. The buildings were also in bad shape. On July 27, 1859, William C. Knight bought 1,237.93 acres, including the house, for $49,517. Catherine was the last Randolph to own Wilton.
Moving Wilton House (1900s)
During the Great Depression, Wilton was in danger of being lost. But in 1933, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia bought it. They saved the house by carefully taking it apart and moving it. It was rebuilt along the James River, about 15 miles west of its original spot. This amazing move saved Wilton for future generations!
Museum Collection
Wilton is the only public plantation home from the 1700s in Richmond. It has a collection of about 1,400 items. These pieces are from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. They include silver, ceramics, fabrics, paintings, old papers, and furniture. Each item helps tell the story of life in Virginia centuries ago.
Images for kids
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Original Land Side. c. 1910s
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Original River Side. c.1910s
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Original West Side. c.1910s
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Original Northeast Chamber. c.1910s
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Original Lower Passage. c.1910s
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Relocation Landside 1935.jpg
Relocation Landside 1935.
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Relocation Riverside 1935.
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Relocation Lower Passage 1935.
