Public Quarry at Government Island
About this property
The Public Quarry at Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia was the principal source of Aquia Creek sandstone, a building stone used in many of the early government buildings in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Capitol and the White House. A quarry was established just off the Potomac River at Wigginton's Island on Aquia Creek by George Brent after 1694. It provided stone for tombstones and to houses and churches in northern Virginia, including Gunston Hall, Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Mount Airy in Richmond County, Virginia, and Aquia Church, as well as steps and walkways at George Washington's Mount Vernon. Washington selected Aquia sandstone as the primary material for use in Washington's government buildings. Acting on the government's behalf, the Wigginton's Island quarry was purchased by Pierre Charles L'Enfant in 1791, becoming known afterward as Government Island. Use of the stone declined as its susceptibility to weathering was observed, and the quarry became worked out and derelict after the American Civil War. The property was sold by the U.S. Government in 1963. It was acquired by Stafford County as a county park and opened to the public on November 6, 2010 with trails and markers highlighting the historical significance of the island. The park has 1.5 miles of trails including an elevated wooden boardwalk through marsh and wetlands, part of the park is handicap accessible. It is a designated site on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Public Quarry at Government Island listed on the National Register?
Public Quarry at Government Island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 2007.
What type of historic resource is Public Quarry at Government Island?
Public Quarry at Government Island is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Public Quarry at Government Island?
The period of significance for Public Quarry at Government Island is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Public Quarry at Government Island?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Public Quarry at Government Island will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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