Otterburn, plantation house near Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia
Otterburn is a Greek Revival house located on a hilltop near Bedford, Virginia, offering views of the surrounding valley and Little Otter Creek. The structure features a nearly square footprint with a cross-gable roof, paired columns at the front entrance, and triple-hung sash windows that reflect classical proportions.
The house was built around 1828 for Benjamin A. Donald and his wife Sally Camm Donald, who managed a large plantation spanning about 2800 acres. Following a fire in 1841, the structure was rebuilt with new Greek Revival details that remain visible today.
The name Otterburn derives from the nearby Little Otter Creek that flows through the property. The house embodies the social standing of its original owners, with its formal architecture and carefully detailed interiors reflecting the values of education and refinement that defined early 19th century planter culture.
The house is a private residence and cannot be accessed from inside, but it is well visible from public roads surrounding the property. Visitors should respect the owner's privacy and view or photograph the structure only from a suitable distance.
After the 1841 fire, the house was rebuilt drawing inspiration from Thomas Jefferson's nearby Poplar Forest, showing his influence on regional architecture. The interiors follow patterns from The Practical House Carpenter, a craftsman book from 1830 that guided the reconstruction work.
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