Scotchtown

Scotchtown, located in Hanover County, Virginia, is best known as the home of Patrick Henry, the fiery orator of the American Revolution whose words helped ignite the cause for independence. Henry lived here from 1771 to 1778, a period that encompassed his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech delivered at nearby St. John’s Church in 1775. The house thus stands as a witness to the years when Henry rose to prominence as a revolutionary leader and inspired Virginians to resist British authority.

The site preserves one of the largest surviving 18th-century homes in the region, surrounded by grounds that reflect the plantation’s historical landscape. Visitors can walk through the mansion’s rooms, restored to evoke Henry’s life with his family, as well as the social and political circles he moved in during the Revolution. Exhibits interpret Henry’s role not only as a revolutionary statesman but also as a planter, lawyer, and early governor of Virginia.