A Legacy Rooted in Virginia’s Past
Nestled in the foothills west of Charlottesville on nearly twelve acres, Birdwood Mansion stands as a testament to Virginia’s layered history—one that stretches back nearly three centuries and encompasses both architectural beauty and the realities of early American history.
In 1734, a crown grant conveyed the land to Joel Terrell Sr. and David Lewis Sr., marking the beginning of a legacy rooted in estate living, agricultural innovation and intellectual pursuit. Long before the Birdwood Mansion was constructed, the property was already a fixture in Albemarle County history. A 1751 map by Joshua Fry—created in collaboration with Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s father—depicted the area as part of the influential Fry-Jefferson map, the definitive representation of Virginia in the 18th century. This early documentation highlights the property’s enduring presence and its deep ties to the founding narratives of early America.
Over the next eight decades, the property was owned by a succession of individuals who helped shape its evolution, including Thomas Garth Sr., Hore Browse Trist, Joseph Bishop, and Alexander Garrett, the first bursar of the University of Virginia. Jefferson himself helped his former student, Hore Browse Trist, lease and later purchase the land. Trist named the estate Birdwood in honor of his English heritage and a family friend, Reverend John Birdwood.
In 1811, William Garth acquired Birdwood and transformed it into one of Albemarle County’s most prominent estates. A member of a well-known Virginia family, Garth was a progressive agriculturalist who founded the Hole and Corner No. 1 Club, an early forum for discussing conservation and crop production methods.
The Birdwood Mansion, constructed between 1819 and 1830, was built and maintained through 1865 by enslaved craftspeople, whose skilled labor shaped not only the house itself but the broader working estate. Their expertise in brickwork, carpentry, ironwork and agricultural production was foundational to the estate’s success and its enduring architectural legacy. Among the many families who were enslaved at Birdwood, names such as Barbour, Brown, Carter, Gibbons, Gohannah, Maupin(e), Sammons, Solomon, and Yancey survive—standing as testimony to the lives and legacies who shaped this historic place.
Architecturally, Birdwood reflects the Jeffersonian ideals popular at the time. The house is a two-story cubic brick structure laid in Flemish bond, with a commanding entrance portico supported by four Doric columns. Elliptical transoms, latticed sidelights, symmetrical facades, incised brick panels and four interior end chimneys exemplify the refined design and craftsmanship of the period. It is believed that the mansion was built by the same builders working on Jefferson’s nearby University of Virginia. While the slate roof is a later addition, parts of the original metal-covered hipped roof still survive beneath later modifications.
The interior features woodwork and fireplaces that date largely to the Colonial Revival period, but with preserved elements from the original construction. Surrounding the house are dependencies, agricultural outbuildings and the remnants of a formal garden, illustrating the scope and scale of 19th-century estate life.
During the Civil War, Birdwood was directly affected by conflict. According to Ada Pyne Bankhead, granddaughter of William Garth, Union scouts in disguise seized the mansion, looted it for three days, and prepared it for occupation. Only after General Sheridan changed course did two guards arrive to protect the property, and Charlottesville itself was spared.
After Garth’s death, the property passed at auction in 1879 to William Stuart Bankhead, a great-grandson of Jefferson and son-in-law of Garth. In the years that followed, Birdwood was home to a number of notable families, including the Bucks, Chamberlains, Edgars, Rineharts, Fondas, Wildes and Middletons, each leaving their mark on the estate.
Hollis Rinehart, a civil engineer and entrepreneur, expanded the mansion to include grand reception rooms, added a swimming pool and built a 175-foot water tower designed to resemble a lighthouse. Later, owner Henry L. Fonda was a visionary livestock breeder whose Hereford cattle and show horses garnered national acclaim. His aunt commissioned famed landscape architect Charles Gillette to design a classic Virginia garden with formal planting plans and a stately ornamental entrance gate.
While renovations and updates continued through the 20th century, the property ultimately came full circle when it was fully acquired by the University of Virginia in 1967, returning it to the academic landscape shaped by Jefferson centuries earlier.
Today, Birdwood Mansion and the surrounding land, including the neighboring Boar’s Head Resort, invite visitors to explore a site rich with architectural splendor and historical depth. As we reflect on its past, we also honor the lives, dreams and labor of all who helped create the place we knew as Birdwood.