Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown Hosts New Program on 18th-Century Medicine

For immediate release

For more information, contact:
Patrick Laird, plaird@preservationvirginia.org
804-227-3500

 “Road to Recovery: An Examination of 18th-century Medicine” guides guests through Scotchtown to learn more about sickness and healing during Patrick Henry’s time. 

BEAVERDAM, Va. (August 5, 2025) – Patrick Henry survived broken bones, an inoculation for smallpox and malaria over the course of his lifetime. Would you have? Join guest interpreter Dr. William Hartland as he shares the fascinating, and at times frightening, world of medicine in the 18th century.

Saturday, August 16th, 2025, guests are invited to participate in one of two presentations held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This special lecture focuses on 18th-century medicine, how Patrick Henry and his family would have been treated for disease and the healing processes that resulted. After the presentation, Scotchtown staff will lead guests on a guided tour through the manor house where Henry, his family and enslaved individuals lived and worked in the years leading up to the American Revolution. This program runs 2 hours in length and is recommended for ages 10 and above. Registration is $20 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets are available for purchase on Preservation Virginia’s website www.preservationvirginia.org.

Scotchtown is the only original standing home of Patrick Henry open to the public. Henry lived at Scotchtown from 1771 to 1778 and conceived his most influential revolutionary ideas there, including his famous “Liberty or Death” speech. Scotchtown was acquired by Preservation Virginia in 1958 and restored to its appearance during Patrick Henry’s life. The house is surrounded by reproduction outbuildings and gardens.

About Preservation Virginia
Preservation Virginia is a private, nonprofit organization seeking to inspire and engage the public in fostering, supporting and sustaining Virginia’s historic places through leadership in advocacy, education, revitalization and stewardship. The organization operates six historic sites open to the public: Bacon’s Castle, the John Marshall House, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, Historic Jamestowne and Smith’s Fort, while being the statewide voice for historic preservation issues. Learn more at www.preservationvirginia.org.