Use of the stone declined as its susceptibility to weathering was observed, and the quarry became worked out and derelict after the U.S. Civil War. The property was sold by the U.S. Government in 1963.[3]
The property was acquired by Stafford County as a county park and opened to the public on November 6, 2010 with trails and markers highlighting the historical significance of the island. The park has 1.5 miles of trails including an elevated wooden boardwalk through marsh and wetlands, part of the park is handicap accessible. It is a designated site on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.[1]
^"Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
^ abc"Statement of Durand Jones, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands of the House Committee on Resources, regarding H. RES. 261, recognizing the historic significance of the Aquia Sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia, for their contributions to the construction of the Capital of the United States". U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^"Government Island". Stafford County Economic Development Authority. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
External linksedit
Government Island
May 08, 2024
public, quarry, government, island, stafford, county, virginia, principal, source, aquia, creek, sandstone, building, stone, used, many, early, government, buildings, washington, including, capitol, white, house, quarry, established, just, potomac, river, wigg. The Public Quarry at Government Island in Stafford County Virginia is the principal source of Aquia Creek sandstone a building stone used in many of the early government buildings in Washington D C including the U S Capitol and the White House A quarry was established just off the Potomac River at Wigginton s Island on Aquia Creek by George Brent after 1694 providing stone for tombstones and to houses and churches in northern Virginia including Gunston Hall Christ Church in Alexandria Virginia Mount Airy in Richmond County Virginia and Aquia Church as well as steps and walkways at George Washington s Mount Vernon 3 Washington selected Aquia sandstone as the primary material for use in Washington s government buildings Acting on the government s behalf the Wigginton s Island quarry was purchased by Pierre Charles L Enfant in 1791 becoming known afterward as Government Island 3 Public Quarry at Government IslandU S National Register of Historic PlacesVirginia Landmarks RegisterShow map of Northern VirginiaShow map of VirginiaShow map of the United StatesLocationStafford County VirginiaNearest cityStafford VirginiaCoordinates38 26 54 N 77 23 0 W 38 44833 N 77 38333 W 38 44833 77 38333Area17 4 acres 7 0 ha Built1791 1791 NRHP reference No 03000457 1 VLR No 089 0103Significant datesAdded to NRHPMay 30 2007Designated VLRMarch 19 2003 2 Use of the stone declined as its susceptibility to weathering was observed and the quarry became worked out and derelict after the U S Civil War The property was sold by the U S Government in 1963 3 The property was acquired by Stafford County as a county park and opened to the public on November 6 2010 with trails and markers highlighting the historical significance of the island The park has 1 5 miles of trails including an elevated wooden boardwalk through marsh and wetlands part of the park is handicap accessible It is a designated site on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail 4 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 1 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Virginia Landmarks Register Virginia Department of Historic Resources Retrieved 5 June 2013 a b c Statement of Durand Jones Deputy Director National Park Service Department of the Interior before the Subcommittee on National Parks Recreation and Public Lands of the House Committee on Resources regarding H RES 261 recognizing the historic significance of the Aquia Sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford County Virginia for their contributions to the construction of the Capital of the United States U S Department of the Interior Retrieved 2 February 2015 Government Island Stafford County Economic Development Authority Retrieved 6 November 2010 External links editGovernment Island Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Public Quarry at Government Island amp oldid 1015048359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
