Historic Tuckahoe, a 557-acre estate along Virginia's James River where Thomas Jefferson spent his early childhood, has been listed for sale at $17 million. The property, located just outside Richmond, is being offered for the first time in nearly a century by the Thompson family, who have owned it since 1935.
Jefferson moved to Tuckahoe at age two in 1745 after his parents became guardians of the orphaned Randolph children, who owned the plantation. He lived there for seven years, during which time his father managed the estate and he received his earliest formal education in a one-room schoolhouse that still stands on the property. The schoolhouse, built by Peter Jefferson, features a unique domed ceiling that may have been an early architectural influence on the future president.
A Historic Estate
The estate's main house, a colonial mansion with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, predates the United States. It was built in two stages by William Randolph III, with the north end constructed in 1733 and the center hall and south wing added around 1740. The H-shaped manor is noted as the only surviving Randolph home still on its original site. Inside, the approximately 6,500-square-foot mansion retains much of its 18th-century craftsmanship, including period windows, ornate woodwork, grand fireplaces, and a black walnut-paneled salon.
Beyond the main residence, Tuckahoe is described as one of North America's most complete surviving colonial plantation complexes. A row of original outbuildings, known as Plantation Street, includes a kitchen, smokehouse, storehouse, barn, overseer's office, and former quarters for enslaved workers. The estate also features formal gardens, mature trees, river views, and hundreds of acres protected by conservation easements.
Historic Tuckahoe has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While local tax authorities value the property at just over $13.2 million, the $17 million asking price, if achieved, would set a new record for the area. Preservation agreements with Virginia's Board of Historic Resources and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are in place to protect the estate's historical integrity.
J Murdoch Matheson of Frank Hardy Sotheby's International Realty, who is marketing the property, stated that the sale is an emotional decision for the Thompson family. He emphasized that their priority is to find new owners who share a deep appreciation for the estate's history and character, ensuring its story continues to be protected for future generations.