thomas stone national historic site

Though it may be one of the more obscure sites on the U.S. history trail, this restored home has many virtues. We had a super, enthusiastic talk from a ranger during our late-November visit--wish I had gotten his name, now. You can avail yourself of a hiking trail across the wooded, rolling landscape. You can see a room restored in exact detail to how it looked in the past. You can hear an interesting story about a "background patriot" who signed our Constitution: his desire for "goodness" over "greatness," and his reluctance to upset the apple cart, is one we don't hear so much when studying our heroes from the past. Kids will enjoy seeing a doodle in an old textbook, family names long ago scratched into the weathered bricks--19th C. graffiti. Though much of the house burned down in the 1970s, the authenticity is still rewarding. There are architectural details that bring the past to life (moving a door because of the weather; the unusual curving orientation that allowed for the discrete stowage of Revolutionary weaponry, etc.). When we were there, they were getting ready to decorate for Christmas--so, not just a summer stop. Check it out!

They have a visitors center with interesting pictures, Drawings and historical information. House is a short walk away and is restored. Park staff at house dressed in period outfits and have interesting talks. Very informative.

My husband and I have been visiting the Thomas Stone National Historic Site for many years and highly recommend this interesting and beautiful site. The guides are knowledgeable and accommodating and the visitor center is interesting. The short walk to the Stone home is delightful at any time of the year. Very much overlooked are the beautiful fields and gorgeous woods which provide hours of walking. I encourage individuals and families to take some quiet time, walk, listen and learn.

The guide was just not a good guide. Long walk from visitors center to the house. It was okay, but have seen better. It is free.

We took a tour to the Thomas stone's house. The ranger was very knowledgeable about Thomas Stone's life and it was very interesting. We learned a lot about him and about the house.I highly recommend that you walk from the visitor center to the house and stop in the cemetery. It's a nice walk, less than 5 minutes.

My fiance and I have made several trips to Thomas Stone National Historic Site, which houses Haberdeventure, Stone's family home. Owned by the National Park Service, rangers are on hand to direct you around the property, and ranger-led tours of the home are very interesting. Plenty of parking at the visitor's center, which is very modern and clean (with restrooms!). Everyone there is very friendly and helpful.From the visitor's center, it's a bit of a walk down to Haberdeventure (likely 10 minutes or so, depending on your speed!), but lovely on a nice day. I find this place very relaxing and interesting, and it's great to have a piece of American history so close to home. It's a fun property to explore, too. If you're a photographer, definitely have your camera handy -- there are beautiful old barns across from Haberdeventure that just beg to be photographed, and part of old Maryland history -- tobacco -- was on display there on our visit last spring.

This is a small, simple park; however, it packs a big punch in feeling a true sense of our nation's history. It's a must see especiallly if you are a local - we drive by it all the time and need to stop more often. Lots of room for little ones to burn off energy too.

See what life was like for the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Walk through the extensive grounds and imagine what life was like for all the residents there, both those in the house and the slaves who worked the land.The visitors center has a fascinating exhibit on religion in Maryland.

Interested in a short trip from Washington, DC? Thomas Stone is one of four Maryland men that signed the Declaration of Independence, and you can visit his home and grave for free in a short 40-minute drive from the Washington beltway.Thomas Stone was born in 1743, and began a career in law in 1765. In 1774 he became a member of the Charles County Committee of Correspondence, and in 1775 was chosen by Maryland as a member of the 2nd Continental Congress. In 1776, Thomas Stone voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence, signing it with his fellow Marylanders, Charles Carroll, William Paca, and Samuel Chase. Thomas helped to draft the Articles of Confederation. Stone continued in Maryland politics up to his death in 1787 shortly after his wife died.The Thomas Stone National Historic Site is located a few miles north of Port Tobacco, a few miles west of MD 301 (west of La Plata, MD), and about 25 miles south of the Washington Capital Beltway (6655 Rose Hill Road, Port Tobacco, MD 20677, 301-392-1776). The Thomas Stone National Historic Site is a few hundred acres of property. The park includes Stone’s home, Haberdeventure (built in 1771, and reconstructed in 1997), his grave along with his family’s graves, a horse barn, a tobacco barn, a corn crib, and a tenant home. There is a small visitor center. We visited the site on a very nice spring day. The rangers at the visitor center were very friendly and steered us into watching an 8-minute film on Thomas Stone. The walk from the visitor center past Thomas’ grave to Habredeventure is about a 300-400 yard walk (but it is possible to drive right up to the building). We walked over and went into the home. There was nobody there, so we had the full attention of the ranger. The home has two side buildings that are connected to the main home by rooms know as “hyphens”. The tour of the interior only took about 30 minutes (including our peppering of the Ranger with questions). The ranger gave us some great information on the history of the structure, details on its construction and restoration, and a wealth of detail on the historic furnishings. A highlight is Stone’s writing desk. We walked past the outbuildings and were able to peer into them, but they are not open (with the exception of the tobacco barn). There are also some “woodsy” trails, but we didn’t try them.Our total time at the site was about 1.5 hours. The site is convenient, quiet, and no crowd. While Thomas Stone is a rather obscure signer of the Declaration, the tour was free and very informative (a big thanks to the great National Park rangers).