Ancient sandstone walls at Mesa Verde, the rock city of Petra, and the mysterious monument Stonehenge have stood the test of time along with many other remnants of ancient history. In West Virginia, we may not have a history that is quite that ancient, although some of our American Indian mounds and etchings come close. But we do have a few buildings still left from the 18th century that have withstood countless storms, urban development, and other ravages of time.
One that might surprise you is the Peter Burr house in Kearneysville.
The Burr family was prominent in early America — Peter Burr's brother was Aaron Burr Sr, president of Princeton College and father of Aaron Burr Jr, vice president and famous duel partner of Alexander Hamilton. Peter Burr himself was one of the earliest settlers of this area.
The house was built between around 1751, and it's still standing nearly 270 years later. That's amazing enough on its own. But it's even more astonishing when you consider what it's made of: wood!
In fact, it's the oldest post-and-beam constructed house in all of West Virginia, and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and featured along the Washington Heritage Trail.
The house has been converted to a historical museum, where visitors can participate in living history activities on the second Saturday of every month from May through October.
The house is now owned — and being restored by — the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, assisted by Reliving History Inc. Private tours and events are also available by appointment.
The Peter Burr House stands on Warm Springs Road in Jefferson County, near Shenandoah Junction in the Eastern Panhandle.
It's a piece of history that's seen generations come and go, and you don't want to miss your chance to experience it!
To learn more about The Peter Burr House, visit them on Facebook. Have you been to see this old treasure? What was your favorite part of the house and grounds?
For more amazing history in this area, check out a few of the other sites along the Washington Heritage Trail!
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