Historic Grounds Report, Part II, The Custis-Lee Mansion Flower Garden
Staff, NPS National Capital Region, Mullins AD, Powell BB, Skillman L. 1964. Historic Grounds Report, Part II, The Custis-Lee Mansion Flower Garden. Cultural Landscape Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Washington, D.C.
The Historic Grounds Report, Part II presents recommendations for restoring the Arlington garden to its appearance in 1861, on the site it occupied from 1802 through 1861. This decision is provided alongside administrative, historical, archeological, and landscape data for the Custis-Lee Mansion Flower Garden. The suggested reconstruction of the garden, technically classified as a Restoration-Reconstruction, is based on documentation and may therefore be termed “accurate.” The restoration-reconstruction of the garden will be an important part of the restoration of the Custis-Lee Mansion to its pre-Civil War appearance. The garden will make possible the more complete interpretation of the story of the area for visitors. When restored, it will serve as a self-interpreting exhibit in place. The flower garden was as important to the Lee family as any room in the main house. They used it as a place to entertain, study, seek solitude, pray, admire the beauties of nature, work the soil, read, play, and even bury their pets. The garden was well known among their friends and relatives, and plants from Arlington’s garden and the conservatory found their way into many other Virginia gardens. The restoration-reconstruction of this historic landscaping is of great importance to the restoration-reconstruction of the natural Custis-Lee Mansion historic scene. The report states that accurate restoration-reconstruction of this nineteenth century garden will provide the visitor with a unique and meaningful experience. It will increase access to general knowledge of nineteenth century gardens, as well as knowledge of the Lees of Arlington. While it does not strictly follow the structure that was later adopted, this Historic Grounds Report was an important precursor to the NPS Cultural Landscape Report.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Staff, NPS National Capital Region; Mullins, Agnes; Powell, Bruce; Skillman, LeRoy
- Date of Issue
- 1964-03
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ARHO , NCR
- Keywords
- bench fences, blossoms, boxwood borders, Division of Horticulture Maintenance, garden, George Washington Parke Custis, grove, historic scene, horticulture, interpretive feature, Lee, mansion, Mount Vernon, nineteenth century garden, pebbled walks, portico benches, restoration-reconstruction, symmetrical, Temple of Fame, vegetable garden