Stratford Hall (plantation)

Stratford Hall is a historic house museum located in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. It was the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, and is the ancestral home of the Lee family.

Stratford Hall is a large brick plantation house built in the 1730s by Thomas Lee. It is a notable example of Georgian architecture and is considered one of the finest examples of colonial plantation houses in America. The house sits on a large estate overlooking the Potomac River.

The history of Stratford Hall spans several generations of the Lee family, beginning with Richard Lee I, who emigrated from England to Virginia in the 17th century. The property passed down through the family, becoming a substantial plantation involved in tobacco cultivation and enslaved labor.

Following the Civil War, Stratford Hall faced economic hardship. In 1929, it was purchased by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, which has since preserved and operated the property as a museum. The museum focuses on the lives of the Lee family, the history of the plantation, and the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked there.

Stratford Hall offers guided tours of the Great House and grounds, providing visitors with insights into colonial life, plantation agriculture, and the history of the Lee family. The museum also conducts archaeological research and educational programs related to the history of the site. The complex includes reconstructed dependencies, gardens, and a working gristmill, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the plantation system.