Rosewell Needs You!
Our volunteers make it possible for us to continue preserving, maintaining and sharing the ruins of what was once America's most magnificent home.
There are many ways you can help. All you need is a passion for history and a willingness to help. We welcome anybody interested in helping with administrative tasks or assisting with buildings and grounds, and we offer training to become a Rosewell docent. Your organization, social group, study group or class, or church organization can volunteer and receive valuable community service hours.
Contact Rachel at outreach@fairfieldfoundation.org to get involved!
Rosewell has embarked on its most ambitious fundraising effort to date, seeking to raise significant funds as part of the 300th anniversary of the mansion in 2025. Board President Tom Karow explains that the campaign is aimed at the continued preservation and stabilization of the ruin. “The Rosewell Ruin stands today as one of America’s most important historical landmarks. This great mansion and the community of people who lived and worked there, both Black and White, free and enslaved, are at the forefront of the American story,” Karow said.
The relevance of Rosewell is fueling the campaign. It has been more than 100 years since the great mansion was ravaged by fire. The past century has not been kind to this historic treasure. The negative impacts of weathering, invasive plant growth, and time are easy to see when visiting Rosewell. "It is the responsibility of this generation to protect the impressive structure that remains to ensure Rosewell’s stories and lessons can be passed on to future generations. Without preservation and interpretation of historic sites like Rosewell, we risk losing the informed perspectives we now have on the difficult lessons learned over the past 300 years” said Fairfield Foundation Co-Director, Thane Harpole.
As we commemorate Rosewell's 300th anniversary in 2025, the fundraising campaign and ongoing preservation efforts are designed to celebrate this milestone. We have an ambitious preservation and stabilization blueprint which includes extensive masonry repair and archaeology to protect and learn from the ruin. This work has already begun and will continue for multiple years. "All that we need now are the funds to implement and complete the blueprint - this is an opportunity for people throughout Virginia, and across the U.S., to help save this amazing resource.” In addition to funds previously raised, we are currently matching a $100,000 challenge grant from the Cabell Foundation and seeking an additional $500,000 to ensure the long-term stability of Rosewell.
Karow concludes “no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Together, we can make a difference and ensure this great ruin is protected for the next 300 years.”
Support the preservation of the Rosewell ruin!
Your gift will be used to support the ongoing care of the Rosewell ruin and Visitor Center, where guests are welcomed to view and learn from archaeological and historical research about this impressive mansion and the massive plantation surrounding it. Ongoing preservation work has recently resumed, and funding is especially important now to ensure these preservation efforts can continue along with new programing initiatives that are in the works.
The Fairfield Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of Internal Revenue Service regulations.
Please send your contribution to the address below, or click on the Donate button:
The Fairfield Foundation
P.O. Box 157
White Marsh VA 23183
If you would like to extend your impact and commitment to our diverse local outreach programs, please consider in the future becoming an annual member of the Fairfield Foundation.
Preserving Rosewell for the Future
Open hours for the 2024 season are Fridays and Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm and Sundays 12 pm - 4 pm. Rosewell will be closed on Saturday, October 26th for a private event. Please visit us on the 25th or 27th for the last days of the regular season, or email fairfield@fairfieldfoundation.org to arrange a special tour.
General Admission: $8 Adults, Children 12 & Under Free, $7 Military Discount, $6 Group Rate (10 or more people)