Bowman's Folly

Bowman's Folly is a residence in Accomac featuring a two-and-a-half-story main section with brick gables and wooden fronts, plus a larger wing showcasing Palladian-style windows. The property includes several connected buildings such as a separate kitchen, dovecote, and outbuildings that demonstrate the typical layout of a substantial 19th-century estate.

The current house was built in 1815 by General John Cropper Jr., a Revolutionary War officer and acquaintance of George Washington, after he demolished the earlier structure. This reconstruction took place during America's Classical Revival period and marks an important shift in how architecture developed in this region.

The house reflects how wealthy Virginia landowners of the early 1800s chose to build and display their status through Classical Revival design. The surviving outbuildings such as the kitchen and dovecote show how daily life operated on such rural estates.

The site is best visited during daylight hours when the brick and wooden architectural details are most visible. Visitors should prepare for a rural property setting and wear appropriate footwear for potentially uneven ground.

The name comes from Edmund Bowman's tragic decision in 1664 to settle in a swampy area, an investment that cost him his son's life. This somber history ties the place's past to its present significance as a notable historic landmark.

Location: Virginia

GPS coordinates: 37.70750,-75.62030

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24