Gari Melchers Home and Studio Joins Special Tour Weekend

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont, the 1790s country retreat home for artist Gari Melchers, will be open free to the public on September 14 and 15 as part of the Journey through Virginia’s Historic Home Promotional Weekend.

The promotional weekend follows Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell’s declaration of 2013 as the “Year of the Historic Home.” The declaration is in conjunction with the Virginia Executive Mansion’s 200th anniversary.

More than 120 sites across the state are classified as historic homes, ranging from pre-Colonial times through the modern era.

For free admission to all historic sites, visit the Virginia Time Travelers: Historic Homes Edition page and print a passport.

For a list of participating historic homes and their hours of operation on September 14 and 15, visit the Virginia Executive Mansion’s page or call (804) 371-2642 ext. 2460.

Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by UMW, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.

Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center. For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum’s website.