The Foundation, which oversees the 1,200-acre Morven Park property adjacent to Leesburg, adopted a new strategic plan for the site in 2010, identifying 28 strategies to achieve four goals: to promote civic leadership, to increase opportunities for the public to enjoy Morven Park’s history and landscape, to promote health and wellness, and to develop a financially sound organization. Key among those 28 strategies was the creation of a master site plan.

Morven Park trustees and staff spent the early months of 2011 meeting with local individuals and organizations with interest and expertise in political and agricultural history, equine sports, nature and the outdoors, and gardening and agriculture. These conversations informed and guided the master planning process and ensured the creation of a vision that will improve Morven Park’s facilities and meet the needs of the greater community.  The plan’s implementation will be largely dependent upon raising outside funding from individuals, corporations,  and foundations.

The master site plan includes separate trail systems for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians; and easier access to and through Morven Park including addition of roads and trails linking the Davis’ Mansion grounds with the equestrian center and soon to be opened sports fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and flag football.  Other highlights include water features; a “Governors’ Walk” that will guide visitors through the gardens and to a new visitors center, the Mansion, a new Coach House Discovery Center, a revitalized Winmill Carriage Museum, and the Turkey Hill educational farm. In addition, the plan calls for extensive enhancements to the equestrian center.

The current equestrian facilities, considered by most users as being well past their primes, will be replaced with new barns, as well as indoor and outdoor arenas. Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, which makes its home at Morven Park, also will build a new indoor arena, stables and offices.

In addition, the Board of Trustees determined, primarily for financial reasons, to discontinue Morven Park’s annual steeplechase race and allocate its resources and fund raising efforts to improve its equestrian facilities and programs for a variety of disciplines including dressage, trail riding, carriage driving, eventing, show jumping, and therapeutic riding.

Morven Park will continue to host the annual Memorial Day weekend Virginia Foxhound Club show, the largest hound show in the world.

A National Register Historic Property, Morven Park was once the home of Gov. Westmoreland Davis of Virginia. Operated by the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Morven Park is a non-profit organization that relies on individual donations, memberships, and event income to fund its public programs. It receives no operating funds from local, state, or federal governments.

The scent of hot apple cider and cookies will fill the Gov. Westmoreland Davis mansion on Saturday, Dec. 3, during Morven Park’s annual open house. The public is invited to tour the rooms in their holiday finery, learn about wintertime activities that would have taken place in the Davis era (circa 1920), and have a cookie … or two.

Since Morven Park was not only the home of Virginia’s governor, but was also a working farm, guests will learn about the typical wintertime social activities as well as the planning that would have taken place in preparation for the following spring plantings. Guests also will hear a presentation on how the farm animals and local wildlife prepared for and thrived through the winter.

The open house, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., is $5 for adults and free for children and for Morven Park members.

On the following day, Sunday, Dec. 4, through Jan. 2, from noon to 4 p.m., regularly scheduled tours will showcase holiday décor throughout the Mansion, focusing on similar themes as those featured during the open house. Tours are $5 for adults, $3 for ages 6-12, and free for children under 6 and for members. The “Columns and Carriages” tour of both the mansion and the Winmill Carriage Museum is $9 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12. Open daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Governor’s mansion will be the setting on Dec. 11 for the First Lady of Virginia’s Holiday Tea. From 1-3 p.m., tea will be served in the home of Virginia First Lady Marguerite Davis. The program begins with a mansion tour to view the holiday decorations, following by a traditional 1920s-style tea. Afterward, participants will make their own Victorian kissing ball. The tea is $25/person or $20 for members. Advance registration is required at www.mpholidaytea.eventbrite.com.

Antiques appraiser Ben Hastings will take a look at family holiday heirlooms and other treasures during a special event at Morven Park on Dec. 17. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., Hastings will guide visitors through the Governor’s mansion, describing the collection and explaining what to look for when purchasing collectibles. Following refreshments, Hastings will offer private appraisals of guests’ heirlooms, beginning at 1 p.m. The tour and appraisal of one object is $20 with additional appraisals available for $10 per item. Pre-registration is required at www.mpantiques.eventbrite.com.

Throughout the month of December, the visitors’ center gift shop will be open from noon to 4 p.m., featuring a new holiday card, tree ornaments, and other unique merchandise.

More than 100,000 people visit Morven Park each year, participating in the programming at the three museums and equestrian center, or enjoying the beautiful scenery, historic gardens, sports fields, Civil War hut site, and hiking trails, all within its 1,200 acres. The public is invited to events in every season, including equestrian competitions, festivals, and hands-on learning programs. A non-profit organization, Morven Park relies on individual donations, memberships, and event income to fund its public programs.

These particular collectors were inspired by the Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the Civil War that began in spring 2011 and will continue throughout the nation for the next four years. But they were further motivated to collaborate on this exhibit because it coincides with the 150th anniversary of one of the most significant battles fought in Loudoun County, the Oct. 21, 1861, Battle of Ball’s Bluff.

The exhibit, “Remembering Ball’s Bluff,” will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. While many items are from the battle itself, other pieces in the exhibit will demonstrate the impact of the War on life in Virginia.

“Literally, this is the first time all these items have been together since the battle 150 years ago,” said one of the exhibitors, Ken Fleming of Purcellville. “This is a rare opportunity to see something that was part of not just Loudoun County history, but U.S. history. To me that’s really special.”

Items on display will include letters, uniforms, items used in daily life, and weapons, as well as letters, newspapers, and photographs. Two swords hold particular interest to local history buffs, even though neither one was used in actual battle. “Both were given separately to officers for their conduct at Ball’s Bluff,” explained Fleming. “Each is one-of-a-kind and this is the first time they’ve been seen together since they were awarded to the officers in 1865. In fact, one of them has never been in public view.”

Other items include rifles and belt buckles fished out of the Potomac, where many Union soldiers drowned after being driven from the bluff. “These are not beautiful items but sometimes rusty relics that at one time someone held in their hand or wore,” said Fleming. “My personal goal in bringing my collection to this exhibit is to reach as many people as possible and bring to life this piece of history in Loudoun County.”

Morven Park, under the operation of the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, was once the home of Virginia’s 55th governor. It will be the site of the Oct. 22-23 commemoration of the Battle of Ball’s Bluff, hosting an encampment of about 1,000 reenactors who will march to the Ball’s Bluff battlefield for the first reenactment ever to take place there.

More than 100,000 people visit Morven Park each year, participating in the programming at the three museums and equestrian center, or enjoying the beautiful scenery, historic gardens, sports fields, Civil War hut site, and hiking trails, all within its 1,000-plus acres. The public is invited to events in every season, including equestrian competitions, festivals, and hands-on learning programs. A non-profit organization, Morven Park relies on individual donations, memberships, and event income to fund its public programs.

With proceeds benefiting Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue, the event will include a canine costume parade, prizes for best costumes, grooming and nail trimming, and obedience and agility demonstrations.

Participants can have photos taken with their dogs and bid on items in a silent auction. Other activities include a yard sale, a vendors’ row, and a bake sale. The entry fee is $5 per dog but is free to owners and spectators. “Early dog” entry is available at 1 p.m. for $15 per dog, offering the best parking and first access to vendors and professional photographers.

Vendors will be displaying the finest in canine couture, toys, and grooming supplies. Those lucky enough to win the costume contest will compete for gifts from these and other local pet supply vendors.

Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue is a non-profit organization serving Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and parts of Pennsylvania. The rescue group accepts senior and difficult-to-adopt golden retrievers and finds foster and adoption homes for them. It also provides sanctuary for any dogs they are unable to place.

A National Register Historic Property, Morven Park was once the home of Virginia Gov. Westmoreland Davis. The park continues to reflect the ideals advanced by Gov. Davis – civic responsibility, agricultural sustainability, and improvement of life for rural Virginians – through programs offered at its three museums, equestrian center, and 1,000 acres of open space. Morven Park is a non-profit organization, operated by the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation. It receives no government funding, but relies on donations and event income in order to maintain its facilities and offer educational programming.

Bodies of Union soldiers killed at Ball’s Bluff floated down the Potomac River to be found by Washington, D.C., residents. The only U.S. Senator ever to be killed in battle died there, and adding to the horror, he was a close enough friend of Abraham Lincoln that the President had named his son, Edward, after him. Miscalculations, lack of equipment, and erroneous intelligence led to a lopsided defeat of the Union regiment.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, the evening before the 150th anniversary of the battle itself, historians will discuss exactly what made the Battle of Ball’s Bluff so significant to the history of Loudoun County and of the United States. The public is invited to join in this panel discussion at Morven Park, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required by emailing kbowman@morvenpark.org or calling 703-777-2890, ext. 6625.

The panelists will be Jim Morgan, author of the book “A Little Short of Boats: The Fights at Ball’s Bluff and Edward’s Ferry;” Stevan F. Meserve, author of the book “The Civil War in Loudoun County, Virginia;” Robert Greenwalt, historical novelist and author of “1861: A Time for Glory;” and George Tabb, manager of the Ball’s Bluff Regional Park. Also on hand will be Ken Fleming, whose collection of items from the battle are among those on display in a Morven Park exhibit through Oct. 30. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for a private tour of the exhibit before the panel discussion begins. Both are located in the Gov. Davis mansion at Morven Park, 17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg.

“The (awards) committee was struck not only by the beauty of the finished project but thatit included the necessary but too often unrecognized unseen portion, such as foundation work and HVAC upgrades,” said Louis Malon, director of preservation services for Preservation Virginia.

The private non-profit organization is a leader in statewide historic preservation, dedicated to perpetuating and revitalizing Virginia’s cultural, architectural, and historic heritage. Preservation Virginia works to protect historic places and to develop preservation policy and strategies.

This is the third award presented this year in recognition of the mansion restoration project. In May the Loudoun Preservation Society and the Joint Architectural Review Board named retired Morven Park Executive Director Will O’Keefe as 2011 Preservationist of the Year and awarded Morven Park a Community Blue Ribbon Award for the mansion project.