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Thomas Stone National Historic Site, also known as Habre de Venture or Thomas Stone House, is a United States National Historic Site located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Washington D.C. in southern Maryland. The site was established to protect the home and property of Thomas Stone, one of the 56 signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. His home and estate were owned by the Stone family until 1936.
[edit] History
Stone purchased Habre de Venture in 1770 and began construction of a new home in 1771. Stone's original plan was to build a small, modest home for him, his wife, and their two daughters but before the house was completed, his father died and five of his younger brothers and sisters came to live with him at Habre de Venture creating the need for larger living quarters. During the 1780's, the Habre de Venture plantation probably supported about 25 to 35 people including a number of slaves. By the time of Stone's death in 1787, Habre de Venture had increased in size from 442 acres (1.79 km²) to 1077 acres (4.36 km²). Stone was buried in the family cemetery adjacent to his home.
Descendants of Thomas Stone continued to own Habre de Venture until 1936 when the land was sold.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.[3][1]
The property was privately owned until 1977 when a fire severely damaged the central section of the house. Habre de Venture was authorized as a National Historic Site a year later in 1978 and was purchased by the National Park Service in 1981. Restoration efforts on the historic structures began at this time but the house was not opened to the public until 1997.
Today, a visitor center located at the site has exhibits on the Declaration of Independence and the life of Thomas Stone. Guided tours of Habre de Venture are also offered.
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