John Marshall House
John Marshall House is closed for interior tours until spring 2021
Beginning Friday, December 11, Bacon’s Castle, Smith’s Fort, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, the John Marshall House and Cape Henry Lighthouse will close for the 2020 season.
With COVID-19 numbers and positivity rates steadily rising in Virginia and in abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of our guests and staff, Preservation Virginia has made the difficult decision to cease guided tours of five of our historic sites.
We wish you and your family a healthy and safe New Year and the best this winter. We look forward to seeing you in person again in 2021.
John Marshall is best known as the “Great Chief Justice” for his role in creating the modern Supreme Court. He served from 1801 until 1835 and his influential decisions, such as Marbury v. Madison, helped shape the principle of judicial review. With the largest collection of original Marshall family pieces, guided tours of his home offer an in-depth look at the formation of American government through the lens of the federal judiciary.
Marshall had his home built in Richmond’s historic Court End neighborhood in 1790 and lived there for forty-five years until his death.
The home remained in the Marshall family until the Chief Justice’s granddaughters sold the land to the City of Richmond in 1907. When the City announced plans to demolish the house to build a high school, the leadership of Preservation Virginia protested. In 1911, the house was placed in the care of Preservation Virginia to be restored and opened to the public.
African American History at the John Marshall House
The Black history connected to the John Marshall House is incredibly rich. It is filled with stories of the families that were built under enslavement, and endured in Richmond’s urban landscape. People like Robin Spurlock, enslaved valet to John Marshall saw the city grow to host the second largest domestic slave market in the country. He witnessed the development of Gabriel’s uprising, and the formation of the American judiciary while he and his wife raised their own three children in slavery.
We are fortunate to have substantial records, first-hand accounts and primary sources that provide glimpses into the lives of the individual enslaved by John Marshall. Though we have only begun to study the history of the Black presence here, we aim to continue to research and build strong relationships with descendants, collect oral histories, and present the individual stories that truly highlight the African American experience here. Moving forward, we hope to continue to be able to provide a detailed context for how these people lived and how they viewed their lives at the Marshall House.
For more in-depth information, and primary source material please email us at johnmarshallhouse@preservationvirginia.org
Address
818 East Marshall St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Hours
Closed until spring 2021 for general interior tours
Digital student tours and programs are available
Student and Group Tours can call 804-648-7998 or email education manager, Meika Downey at mdowney@preservationvirginia.org to book
PLAN YOUR VISITPlan your visit
Urban Garden Space
The historic Virginia flower gardens at the John Marshall House display plants found in the colonial gardens of Williamsburg and Yorktown that might have been maintained and enjoyed by the Marshall family.
Day Trip
Turn your visit into a day trip! We’re walking distance from several historic attractions in Richmond’s Court End neighborhood, including the Virginia State Capitol, the Library of Virginia and the Valentine. We also offer a block ticket to our historic site Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown in nearby Hanover County.
Student and Group Tours
Student and Group Tours larger than 6 people can call 804-648-7998 or email education manager, Meika Downey at mdowney@preservationvirginia.org to book. Student tours and programs are available Monday-Thursday.
VISITOR INFOHours & Directions
The John Marshall House is closed until spring 2021
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
African American History at the John Marshall House
We value the Marshall House’s African American community’s history and would love for you to be a part of the process of gathering more information about the Black presence here. If you are a descendant of the Marshall House or a member of the community and would like to share your family’s history or your knowledge of the African American history here, please contact us at johnmarshallhouse@preservationvirginia.org or 804.648.7998
Admission
Pricing
| Preservation Virginia Members | Free (Become a member) |
| General Admission | $10 |
| AAA, Senior (60+), Military Discount | $9 |
| Students | $8 |
| Children Under 6 | Free |
Contact
For information on pricing and availability:
johnmarshallhouse@preservationvirginia.org
804-648-7998
Donate to John Marshall House
Key Visitor Info
Location & Arrival
Metered street parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A public parking lot is available 2 blocks away on 9th and Clay Streets.
Rules & Regulations
For the health and safety of our guests, we’re taking the following precautions as part of re-opening:
Our pledge to you–
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We will continuously clean bathroom fixtures, doorknobs and other highly touched surfaces multiple times throughout the day with a deep clean at the close of business.
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All of our staff will wear masks and will be trained on appropriate cleaning, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
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All of our staff will maintain physical distancing (6 feet) while conducting tours and collecting admissions. Where possible, we have placed reminders to help you maintain that distance.
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Each day, all Preservation Virginia staff members will be required to pass a wellness check. Anyone that is sick or exhibiting systems will not be allowed to work that day.
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Hand sanitizer will be located throughout the building for guest and staff use.
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We will limit the size of groups to maintain physical distancing on interior tours. Tour limits are as follows:
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Groups are limited to six (6) people
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Wherever possible doors will remain open to alleviate the necessity of touching.
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Our guidelines do not supersede any directives issued by government entities and will be continuously evaluated and amended as we receive further guidance from the CDC and other agencies.
Your pledge to us–
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You will practice the Virginia mandated physical distancing guidelines that have been put into place to protect you, our staff and other guests. This includes maintaining 6 feet of distance and wearing masks are required for interior access, including the museum shop, shuttles and restroom facilities and are recommended outdoors.
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You will register for tours online and in advance and use “no touch payment” when possible.
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You will refrain from bringing food, water or other items on to the site. If you do, please “leave no trace” and take your trash with you to help protect others from possible exposure to infection.
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If you have been exposed to COVID-19, feel sick or have a fever, please stay home, and we look forward to seeing you when you are well
For Students and Teachers
History Where it Happened
The John Marshall House offers students, teachers and parents the opportunity to learn history where it actually happened. To host a field trip at the John Marshall House, contact johnmarshallhouse@preservationvirginia.org or 804-648-7998.
We also offer educational resource packets and videos on our website that address Virginia Standards of Learning components. Click here to download and view these free materials.
