Sully Historic Site | Fairfax

The Sully Historic Site is a historically rich and meticulously preserved 18th-century plantation estate located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Virginia. It serves as a vivid window into the early history of Northern Virginia, illustrating plantation life, architectural styles, agricultural practices, and the complex social history of the region from the late 1700s onward. The site is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, reflecting its significant cultural and historical value.

Historical Background

Sully was established in 1794 by Richard Bland Lee, a notable figure in Virginia’s history who was Northern Virginia’s first U.S. Representative to Congress. Lee’s influence extended beyond politics into agricultural innovation and regional development. Sully functioned originally as a tobacco plantation but later shifted toward mixed farming and dairy production as the agricultural economy evolved.

The plantation exemplifies the transition in Virginia’s economy and social structure in the post-Revolutionary War period. It also reflects the lifestyle and status of a prominent Virginia gentry family while simultaneously telling the stories of the enslaved African Americans and later tenant farmers who lived and worked on the land.

Architectural Features

The centerpiece of the Sully Historic Site is the main house, a two-and-a-half-story brick dwelling constructed in a blend of Georgian architectural style combined with elements reminiscent of the Philadelphia row house design. The house showcases characteristics typical of late 18th-century upper-class Virginia homes, featuring:

Symmetry and proportion consistent with Georgian style, which was popular among the colonial elite.

A striking scalloped eaves design that adds decorative detail along the roofline.

A spacious piazza (porch) across the front façade, providing a shaded outdoor living space.

Inside, original features such as woodwork, fireplaces, and period-appropriate flooring have been preserved or carefully restored.

Outbuildings and Grounds

Sully is notable for its collection of historic outbuildings, which enrich visitors’ understanding of plantation operations and daily life:

Smokehouse: This brick structure was used for curing and storing meats. Its interior preserves wooden pegs where meats were hung during the smoking process.

Stone Dairy: Built circa 1801, the dairy was essential for processing milk and making butter and cheese. Its construction is historically significant, and the dairy likely involved the labor of enslaved workers.

Kitchen/Laundry Building: A separate brick building where food preparation and laundry were done, equipped with a rare architectural technique known as galletting-inserting small stones into mortar joints for both decorative and structural purposes.

Slave Quarter Cabin: A reconstructed cabin that represents the type of housing used by enslaved individuals on the plantation, offering insight into their living conditions.

19th-century Log Schoolhouse: Relocated to the site from Haymarket, it represents rural education during the 1800s.

Family Cemetery: The gravesite for members of the Lee family and other associated individuals is preserved on the grounds, providing a direct connection to the site’s inhabitants.

Social and Cultural History

The Sully Historic Site tells multifaceted stories encompassing:

Plantation Life: The daily operations of an 18th-century plantation, including crop cultivation, animal husbandry, and domestic tasks.

Slavery and Labor: The lives of the enslaved people who worked the land, maintained the house, and performed skilled and unskilled labor. Sully provides interpretive programs that focus on these often overlooked narratives, highlighting individuals such as Thornton, a cook, and Madam Juba, a laundress, to personalize the historical experience.

Agricultural Evolution: Over time, Sully transitioned from tobacco to mixed crops and eventually to dairy farming, reflecting broader agricultural trends in Northern Virginia.

Preservation History: The site faced threats from urban development, especially the construction of Dulles International Airport in the late 1950s. Preservation efforts, including an Act of Congress, ensured that Sully would be protected and restored as a historic landmark.

Educational and Visitor Experience

Visitors to Sully can engage with history through a variety of immersive experiences:

Guided Tours: Led by knowledgeable docents, these tours explore the architecture, history, and stories behind the plantation, providing detailed context about the Lee family and the enslaved community.

Self-Guided Tours: Visitors can use printed maps or audio guides to explore the house, outbuildings, and grounds at their own pace.

“Forgotten Road” Outdoor Tour: This specialized walking tour focuses on the lives of African Americans who lived and worked at Sully, uncovering personal histories and the impact of slavery and emancipation on the site.

Special Events and Programs: Sully hosts seasonal festivals such as an Earth Day Festival celebrating environmental stewardship, fall open houses with historical reenactments, and educational workshops that bring colonial history to life.

Practical Visitor Information

Location: 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Virginia

Visitor Center Hours: Open Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Tour Times: Guided tours are offered at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM on weekends

Admission: Grounds access is free; guided tours require a modest fee

Accessibility: The site is partially accessible, with some areas adapted for visitors with mobility challenges

Significance and Legacy

The Sully Historic Site stands as a vital educational resource that preserves and interprets an important chapter of Virginia’s colonial and early American history. Its well-preserved architecture and diverse array of outbuildings provide an authentic setting to explore themes of wealth, agriculture, labor, and social hierarchy.

Through its interpretive programs and preservation efforts, Sully offers a nuanced understanding of the complexities of plantation life, including the often-silenced stories of enslaved individuals. It connects visitors to the legacies of the Lee family and their impact on regional and national history while fostering a deeper appreciation for historic preservation and cultural memory.

In summary, Sully is much more than a historic house-it is a dynamic cultural landscape where history is actively preserved, interpreted, and shared with the public, ensuring that the multifaceted stories of Fairfax County’s past remain alive for future generations.