Menokin: Re-Imagining A Ruin

Menokin: Re-Imagining A Ruin Our vision is to be one of the most engaging destinations for historic preservation & interpretation. Menokin's landscape is open daily, 7am to 7pm.

This includes our trails and kayak launch. Tours and kayak rentals are available by reservation. Visit our website or email us at [email protected] to learn more.

Kayak season starts this month as well as our summer hours! June-October, we’re open for guided tours Wed-Sun, 10AM-4PM....
06/01/2026

Kayak season starts this month as well as our summer hours! June-October, we’re open for guided tours Wed-Sun, 10AM-4PM.
Rent a kayak for $15/hr per person or our special 4-hr rental for $45/person!
You can also join a guided paddle with a group, 2 hours of exploration for only $25/person! Check out our website today for rentals or booking a guided paddle (now available!):
https://www.menokin.org/kayak

Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

The Menokin ruin is a hard hat area due to ongoing construction. Entry inside the ruin is greatly restricted and will va...
05/29/2026

The Menokin ruin is a hard hat area due to ongoing construction. Entry inside the ruin is greatly restricted and will vary to ensure visitor safety. That doesn't mean guided tours are over, however---consider visiting us to learn more about what is happening at Menokin and see this work in real time!
Visit Menokin: https://www.menokin.org/plan-your-visit


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

Peter Harding, formerly enslaved in Northumberland County, was one of many black Revolutionary War refugees who permanen...
05/27/2026

Peter Harding, formerly enslaved in Northumberland County, was one of many black Revolutionary War refugees who permanently settled in Nova Scotia. He, along with his wife, Kate (or Catherine) Harding and their son Ebenezer lived in Shelburne, Nova Scotia with Peter’s occupation being listed as a laborer. Typical work as a laborer would include clearing land, woodcutting, and hunting.
Fleeing to British lines was a risky endeavor, but many took their chance to gain their freedom. There were others who settled in Nova Scotia who came from the Northern Neck including Nicholas Forde (King George County), Jacob Watson (Richmond County), & William (Westmoreland County).

Check out our online "Finding Freedom" exhibit to learn more NNK stories of self-emancipation during the American Revolution and beyond: https://www.menokin.org/selfemancipation-2026

Image: “A Black Canadian Wood Cutter at Shelburne, Nova Scotia” (1788) watercolor sketch by Captain William Booth
Source: Library and Archives Canada / W.H. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana Manoir Richelieu Collection / c040162k


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

We hope to see you at Stratford Hall's "Virginia Resolved" event, June 6-7! Menokin will be tabling on the 7th showcasin...
05/24/2026

We hope to see you at Stratford Hall's "Virginia Resolved" event, June 6-7! Menokin will be tabling on the 7th showcasing a shingle-making demonstration. Stop by to see the craftsmanship involved as you enjoy the weekend of fun.
You can learn more about the event here: https://www.stratfordhall.org/virginiaresolved/


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

The roof (or what was left of it) has been removed from the ruin! All pieces have been tagged and are being stored in ou...
05/22/2026

The roof (or what was left of it) has been removed from the ruin! All pieces have been tagged and are being stored in our barn next to the Visitor Center. In future years, with the help of restoration carpenters, we will rebuild this northeast roof section and put it back on top of the house. For now, with the roof removed and interior wood joists and slats also removed and stored, the Dominion builders will continue making repairs to the north and east walls. Without the roof, we’ve added bracing to the exterior walls to ensure stability during work.
Construction at the ruin this year makes the site a hard hat area. That means guided tours inside the ruin will be greatly limited. Visitors will still be able to observe the outer perimeter of the site and see work underway in real time. Consider visiting us!

Our 2025-2026 extensive work on the ruin has been made possible by a generous grant from the VA 250 Preservation Fund and from Menokin donors. We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you!
Dominion Traditional Building Group

Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

A photo of the Remembrance Structure. Designed by REID Architecture and built in 2018, the Remembrance Structure sits at...
05/21/2026

A photo of the Remembrance Structure. Designed by REID Architecture and built in 2018, the Remembrance Structure sits atop the archaeological footprint of an 18th century enslaved dwelling. Archaeology conducted in the early 2000s found artifacts like ceramic fragments, buttons, and glass that indicated human habitation in the area. Two other archaeological footprints of dwellings, dated to the 19th century, were also found. Their locations are marked by the flagstones on the ground.

The Remembrance Structure acts as a memorial site for Menokin’s enslaved individuals and families who labored here. We’re continuing to uncover their stories today.


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

The weather so far this spring has been great! Menokin’s grounds are free and open for the public to take advantage of t...
05/19/2026

The weather so far this spring has been great! Menokin’s grounds are free and open for the public to take advantage of the weather before the summer heat rolls in.

You can also consider booking a tour to learn the history of this site: https://www.menokin.org/plan-your-visit


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

“The subscriber requests it as a favour of all his acquaintances, that they will never take any LETTER directed to him o...
05/16/2026

“The subscriber requests it as a favour of all his acquaintances, that they will never take any LETTER directed to him out of the POST-OFFICE, as he is determined never willingly to pay a farthing to any TAX laid upon this COUNTRY, in any unconstitutional manner.” -Francis Lightfoot Lee (Virginia Gazette, May 16, 1766)
This public notice, written by Francis Lightfoot Lee, shows Lee asking subscribers to not pay the tax associated with their letters in an effort to resist against the Stamp Act. This public call to oppose the British monarchy’s authority put Lee at risk for treason.
Image source: From the Virginia Gazette newspaper (May 16, 1766)


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck Technical Center

The first image is a photo of Menokin’s woodwork that used to be stored in a loft at Bacon’s Castle. Initially thought t...
05/13/2026

The first image is a photo of Menokin’s woodwork that used to be stored in a loft at Bacon’s Castle. Initially thought to be lost, it was discovered that the woodwork was removed from the house by the Omohundro family for fear of the pieces being stolen. Once stored at Bacon’s Castle under the custodianship of Preservation Virginia, each piece was catalogued and eventually returned to Menokin (stored in our Visitor Center and barn).

We are currently removing wood from the ruin’s study on the first level and second level space above the study before removal of the roof. These pieces are being held with our many other interior pieces and are being labelled and catalogued into a database. The next photos are some of those removed pieces, where you can really see the years of history behind them. Dominion Traditional Building Group

You can support more work on the ruin, and be a part of Menokin's story by contributing to our Annual Fund: https://menokinfoundation-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1264796


Town of Warsaw, VA Virginia is for Lovers Northern Neck National Heritage Area

Address

4037 Menokin Road
Warsaw, VA
22572

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

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