Aldie Mill Historic Park – Aldie, Virginia - Atlas Obscura
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Aldie Mill Historic Park

Aldie, Virginia

The Aldie Gristmill was once the largest factory of its kind in Loudoun County. 

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The grinding stones and the historical crane used to move them for maintenance. ickaimp (Atlas Obscura User)
How the mill worked ickaimp (Atlas Obscura User)
Lower level of the mill race. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Exhibit dedicated to former miller James Edwards. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Docent demonstrating how the mill works. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Big wheel keeps on turning. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Corn and fresh ground cornmeal from the mill. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
The remains of the hopper on the upper floor that fed the corn down to the stones ickaimp (Atlas Obscura User)
Inner workings of the mill. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Portraits in the miller's chamber. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Reservoir above the waterwheel. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Sign with information on the Battle of Aldie. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Additional portraiture in the miller's chamber. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Lineage of the millers. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Sign about Aldie Mill. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
Aldie Mill Historic Park sign. blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)
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Rich in local history, the Aldie Mill Historic Park offers patrons a chance to step into the early 1800s and experience a taste of industrial life and culture from days of yore.

Constructed between 1807-1809, the Gristmill boasts fully functional tandem metal waterwheels and docents demonstrate how grains were (and still are) ground into meal.

In addition to impressive mill demonstrations, visitors can enter the miller’s chamber where former president and local legend James Monroe once marked time while having his grain ground while visiting from his nearby estate.

A brick granary that was constructed between 1809-1816 can also be found on the property and the storehouse still vends products from the mill.

The mill was initially operated by Charles Fenton Mercer, who sold it to Captain John Mercer in 1835, after which, six generations of his descendants ran the mill continuously until it closed in 1971. The mill was restored in October 2010, including the twin overshot wheels, and is once again a fully functional Gristmill. Nowadays, visitors can find the mill fully operational, often grinding grain on weekends in the summertime. 

Know Before You Go

There is a small parking lot in front of the mill. The tour is quick and well worth the time.

mills industrial history & culture
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Published
June 15, 2021
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