DAYtrip

Carlyle House Historic Park

By Jackie DiBartolomeo

The Carlyle House, sitting right in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the perfect place for a staycation visit in the Washington, DC, area this summer. This Georgian-style mansion and garden offer a glimpse back in time to what life was like for Scottish merchant and city founder John Carlyle, the builder and first owner of the house. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. NOVA Parks acquired the house and grounds in 1970 and began a restoration project that lasted six years until the property was opened to the public, according to the NOVA Parks website. Carlyle House is full of relics and replicas of the furniture, portraits, and clothing that would have been in the house during John Carlyle’s stay. While the historic home is beautiful, Carlyle House has even more to offer. Sitting in the back of the house is the Carlyle House garden, a small yet stunning ¾-acre area perfect for enjoying some shade from the sun, a picnic, or to just sit and relax. The garden is open even when the house itself is closed, providing a perfect time for a quiet visit. The garden is designed in the 18thcentury style, featuring plant materials that would have been available to John Carlyle during his time at the house, according to the NOVA Parks website. The garden is filled with benches, brick walkways, a cutting garden, and a gazebo. Guided tours of the Carlyle House are available Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am–4pm, and Sundays from 12noon–4pm. o

Jackie DiBartolomeo is a journalism major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener. She is also a staff reporter with The Campus Trainer.