Save Cornwell Farm and our Rural Heritage

Our community is at a crossroads. Many of our iconic historical and rural assets are at risk. Some have already been lost to development.

The Georgetown Pike Rural Preservation Trust exists to preserve and restore the rural heritage of Georgetown Pike and its communities. Dozens of historical properties, buildings, and rural viewsheds along Georgetown Pike and its connecting byways are at risk of destruction. The Georgetown Pike is itself listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was even traversed by George Washington.

One of our current projects is saving Cornwell Farm in Great Falls, Virginia.

Cornwell Farm overlooks Georgetown Pike and is one of Northern Virginia’s most significant historical properties with a 19th Century Virginia antebellum Manor House built circa 1831. The house is at risk of demolition and the property developed into a 6-home subdivision. However, the developer who currently owns it is willing to sell the property to investors interested in preserving the property permanently with a conservation easement.

Most of us aren't in a financial position to buy Cornwell Farm ourselves, but our collective donations can be used to co-invest alongside larger investors we have identified who are interested in preserving the property forever with a conservation easement.

To learn more about Cornwell Farm, click here

The Georgetown Pike Rural Preservation Trust is currently working on other conservation projects. We have partnered with several large landowners to implement conservation easements on their properties to prevent subdivision and development. We are also working with another community member to restore and preserve a centuries-old historical structure on their property. Your donations help protect these rural properties and historical artifacts permanently.

If you believe in our mission and in saving our history, please donate what you can.

Over 60% of Georgetown Pike’s viewshed is vulnerable to development or redevelopment in the next ten years. We must prevent this from happening. With your support, we can save and restore the unique rural heritage that makes our community so special. If we do nothing, these historical and rural artifacts of early American history will be wiped clean as will the unique character of our community.

To learn more about our work, please visit our website here

As a new non-profit organization incorporated in Virginia, we have partnered with the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) to hold your donations on our behalf while we await confirmation of our 501c3 status from the IRS. Donations are tax-deductible. We thank the NVCT for its support.