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Welcome to the Clermont Farm website, provided by The Clermont Foundation which operates the historic Clermont Farm site for its owner, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

SEE OUR RESEARCH: We have restored the availability of nine very rich academic papers commissioned by the Foundation on topics about the history of the site, as well as that of a detailed Historic Structure Report on the core buildings, the Slave House, Smoke House, and Owner House, including fifteen appendices with information on dendrochronology, paint analysis, historical reconstruction drawings from different periods, etc. If you're interested in local and Valley history, you will be fascinated by the details in these Papers and the Report.

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING WITH THE BARN REPLACEMENT?

VISITING CLERMONT FARM

As a working farm, safety and biosecurity are important. In addition to the Farm's scheduled public events, and its programs with educational partners such as the Clarke County Public Schools and the Virginia Cooperative Extension, we welcome individuals and groups for tours by appointment. Call 540-955-0102 for information.

Clermont Snapshots

2024-07-17T14:28:27-04:00
Volunteer Bob Dean checking one of Clermont's Kestrel boxes.

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Public Events

2024-07-18T12:34:21-04:00
Battle Of Berryville 160th Anniversary: Encampment, Speaker -Sun. September 8th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Clermont Farm

$20 for non-members / $15 for members (buy tickets on Clarke County Historical Association website) Join us for a presentation and learn about the Civil War Battle fought 160 years ago in Berryville. National Park Service Ranger Rick Ashbacker (Cedar Creek-Belle Grove National Historic Park) will be the speaker.

Background: Union General Philip Sheridan’s divisions marched south from Halltown, reaching Berryville on September 3, 1864. Happening upon elements of Union General George Crook’s corps going into camp, Confederate General R.H. Anderson’s (Kershaw’s) division attacked with limited results. During the night, Confederate commander Jubal Early brought up his entire army from Winchester, but by daylight found Sheridan’s position too strongly entrenched to assault. Early withdrew after dark behind Opequon Creek. 24,000 troops were engaged (16,000 Union; 8,000 Confederate) with 609 total casualties (314 Union; 295 Confederate).

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The Clermont Foundation

The Clermont Foundation preserves the cultural landscape of historic Clermont Farm in the Shenandoah Valley, in partnership with its owner, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR).

The Foundation uses the farm’s many historic buildings and 360-acre working cattle and sheep operation to promote public education and engagement with agriculture, history, and historic preservation.

A mid-sized farm surveyed on the then western frontier by an 18-year old George Washington in 1750, the farm was created by the generation of the American Revolution but its story is the story of a changing America down to the present day, and of all the peoples associated with the site, including Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and African Americans who built a community on Clermont land.

The Foundation is a non-profit which manages and funds (no state appropriations) the site.

It was created by the same woman, Elizabeth Rust Williams, a pioneering lawyer, judge, farmer and preservationist, whose family had owned the farm for 185 years, who made the gift of the property to the Commonwealth in 2004.

151 Clermont Lane, Berryville, VA 22611 Phone: 540-955-0102