Historic Huntley Plantation

This villa and farm was built around 1820 as a second home for Thomson Francis Mason and his wife Elizabeth “Betsey” Clapham Price.

Mason, a highly regarded Virginia lawyer, served as Mayor of Alexandria during the late 1820s and was also the central figure responsible for “The Middle Turnpike,” which his company built after Mason received approval from President John Quincy Adams to proceed with the critical infrastructure project. Mason remained active in politics until his death in 1838.

Betsey Mason outlived her husband by 35 years and was known as a dynamic figure who played a key role in the preservation of George Washington’s Mount Vernon home.

Historic Huntley was used for many purposes over the years as a summer retreat, grain farm, encampment for Civil War troops, and eventually as a very successful dairy farm run by the Harrison family in the early 20th-century.

In 1989, the property was obtained by the Fairfax County Park Authority and was used only for special events until a major renovation in 2012. The building and property are now open for tours.