Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District

The district includes a two-story frame house called Lanesville, constructed around 1807, situated on solid stone-rubble foundation within Claude Moore Park.

During the War of 1812, Vestal's Gap Road facilitated the transport of important documents, including the Declaration of Independence, as British forces advanced on Washington.

The architectural elements of Lanesville house represent the Early Republic period style, demonstrating construction methods and design preferences from early nineteenth-century Virginia.

The district spans 7.5 acres and contains informative signage, allowing visitors to explore both the preserved historical road trace and the Lanesville building.

President John Adams and Marquis de Lafayette attempted to travel this road in 1825, but its poor condition forced them to choose an alternative route.

Location: Virginia

GPS coordinates: 39.01750,-77.40310

Latest update: March 3, 2025 14:21