One of colonial America's grandest mansions, Rosewell was built between 1725 and 1738 and was gutted by fire in 1916. Four massive chimneys, one wall, and a vaulted cellar are now silent witnesses to history. Stabilized, but not rebuilt, Rosewell allows visitors to inspect 18th-century brickwork from a perspective that no intact building can offer.

The Rosewell mansion was the centerpiece of a 3000-acre plantation where slaves cultivated tobacco and grain. Beneath its soil, countless artifacts now wait for archaeologists to interpret them. While preservation and study are ongoing, there are no plans to rebuild the mansion within its remaining walls. It is left to the imagination to reconstruct Rosewell as it was known by Governor John Page, his friend Thomas Jefferson, and three generations of the Page family.

Rosewell is open year-round Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24 & 25, Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. General admission: $4. Children ages 6-12: $2. The Rosewell Visitor Center features an introductory exhibit and video, an archaeology lab, and a gift shop. To reach Rosewell, turn off Route 17 onto HIckory Fork Road at the Wawa store and follow the brown "Rosewell" signs. The site is about 4 miles beyond Route 17.