Belvoir (plantation)

Belvoir was a plantation located in Fairfax County, Virginia, situated on the Potomac River. Established in the early 18th century, it was the primary residence of Colonel William Fairfax, a prominent figure in colonial Virginia society and a cousin and close friend of George Washington.

Fairfax acquired the land in 1735 and built a substantial Georgian-style mansion, which he named Belvoir, meaning "beautiful view" in French. The plantation thrived on the cultivation of tobacco and other crops, relying heavily on enslaved labor. Belvoir became a center of social and political life in the region, hosting notable guests and playing a role in the development of the surrounding community.

Following William Fairfax's death in 1757, the estate passed to his son, George William Fairfax, who managed the plantation until he and his wife, Sarah Cary Fairfax, departed for England in 1773, due to growing political tensions with the colonies. They never returned.

During the American Revolutionary War, Belvoir was occupied by British forces. In 1783, a fire, possibly started deliberately, destroyed the mansion. The land was eventually acquired by the U.S. government, and in the early 19th century, it became part of Fort Belvoir, a U.S. Army installation.

Today, little remains of the original Belvoir plantation. Archeological investigations have uncovered the foundations of the mansion and other buildings, providing insights into the lives of those who lived and worked there, both free and enslaved. Fort Belvoir continues to operate as a military base, preserving the historical significance of the site through ongoing research and interpretation.