THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step behind the doors of two preserved 18th-century homes on Preservation Virginia’s Founding Virginians: A 250th Bus Tour. In one day you’ll visit Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown and the John Marshall House while historians trace the complicated legacies of these founding figures.
Step behind the doors of two preserved 18th-century homes on Preservation Virginia’s Founding Virginians: A 250th Bus Tour. In one day you’ll visit Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown and the John Marshall House while historians trace the complicated legacies of these founding figures.
Book with Preservation Virginia
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Preservation Virginia · Richmond, Virginia
easy.
5–6 hours.
Light activity: minimal walking between sites but expect uneven ground and a few interior stairs.
The tour begins at Patrick Henry's Scotchtown, 16120 Chiswell Ln, Beaverdam, VA 23015; check-in details will be provided after booking.
Yes. The tour description notes that lunch will be provided between the Scotchtown tour and the Richmond stop.
Expect about 5–6 hours total; the event starts with an 11:00 a.m. tour at Scotchtown and returns by 4:00 p.m.
Accessibility varies: both homes retain original fabric, thresholds, and narrow stairs; contact Preservation Virginia for specific accommodations.
Photography is often allowed but restricted in certain rooms; follow each site’s interior rules and your guide’s instructions.
Specific cancellation terms aren’t included in the listing; check Preservation Virginia’s booking confirmation or contact them directly for policy details.
Both stops illuminate late 18th- and early 19th-century Virginia life; Scotchtown is one of Patrick Henry’s surviving residences and the John Marshall House reflects a long judicial career in Richmond.
Preservation Virginia balances public access with conservation practices to protect original materials; please follow site rules to minimize wear on historic fabrics.
Preservation Virginia is a Richmond, Virginia-based organization that operates and interprets historic sites and educational programs across the state. The organization presents guided tours, hands-on workshops, documentary-style tours, and virtual programs that highlight Virginia’s colonial, revolutionary, and 19th-century history. Preservation Virginia’s portfolio of sites and programs includes Bacon’s Castle (built in 1665 and recognized as North America’s oldest brick home), the historic landing site at Cape Henry Lighthouse, Smith’s Fort with surviving earthworks and an 18th-century manor house, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown—the remaining house of the famed orator—and the John Marshall House in Richmond. Programming spans in-person tours and remote learning: the John Marshall House offers a 45-minute tour; the Courtmaker Documentary Tour of the Marshall House provides an intimate look at family artifacts; the Beginners Genealogy Research Workshop at Bacon’s Castle is taught by genealogist Sarah Carson; and multiple virtual programs bring lighthouse history and Revolutionary War sea battles to students. Educational offerings also include the Augustus Hodges virtual program, focused on Willis Hodges—Cape Henry Lighthouse’s first African American keeper and abolitionist—and the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper kids program. Preservation Virginia’s events and tours emphasize primary sources, artifacts, architecture, and site-specific stories to connect visitors with Virginia’s past. All descriptions and program leaders are provided in third-person; visitors should consult Preservation Virginia’s official listings for booking and availability.
Book with Preservation Virginia