George Mason's Gunston Hall

In the 1930s, Louis Hertle, then owner of Gunston Hall, began considering ways to preserve this historic property. It was the wish of his late wife, Eleanor Daughaday Hertle, that Gunston Hall become a memorial to George Mason. Mr. Hertle believed this could be established through the joint efforts of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Commonwealth) and The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA). In 1932, the Commonwealth formally accepted the gift of Gunston Hall which was to be administered by a Board of Regents chosen by the NSCDA. Mr. Hertle continued to live on the property until his death in 1949, at which time the property formally changed hands. Shortly thereafter, the house was opened to the public with a resident director living upstairs and restoration work being done on the first floor. After several years of preparation and efforts to collect furniture, decorative arts, books, and other interpretive items, Gunston Hall was officially opened to the public on April 25, 1952. A visitors’ center and administrative space was built and dedicated to Eleanor Hertle in 1955.