Public Quarry at Government Island | |
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| Location | Stafford County, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Stafford, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°26′54″N77°23′0″W / 38.44833°N 77.38333°W /38.44833; -77.38333 |
| Area | 17.4 acres (7.0 ha) |
| Built | 1791 (1791) |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000457[1] |
| VLR No. | 089-0103 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 2007 |
| Designated VLR | March 19, 2003[2] |
ThePublic Quarry at Government Island inStafford County, Virginia was the principal source ofAquia Creek sandstone, a building stone used in many of the early government buildings inWashington, D.C., including theU.S. Capitol and theWhite House.
A quarry was established just off thePotomac River at Wigginton's Island on Aquia Creek by George Brent after 1694. It provided stone for tombstones and to houses and churches in northern Virginia, includingGunston Hall,Christ Church inAlexandria, Virginia,Mount Airy inRichmond County, Virginia, andAquia Church, as well as steps and walkways at George Washington'sMount 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 byPierre Charles L'Enfant in 1791, becoming known afterward as Government Island.[3]
Use of the stone declined as its susceptibility to weathering was observed, and the quarry became worked out and derelict after theAmerican Civil War.
The property was sold by the U.S. Government in 1963.[3] It was acquired byStafford 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 thePotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.[4] It was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2007.[1]
