That’s right – July 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Menokin Foundation. If you’ve been to Menokin in the last five years or so, you know that a lot has happened here in that time. We had two visitors recently who haven’t been here since 1994. That’s a long time! We told them they were in for a treat. These folks have been constant supporters of Menokin over these past two decades. We are so glad they were able to come and see for themselves what their contributions have help us to accomplish. They sent us an email upon their return home and copies of photos they had taken during their 1994 visit. Here are their note and the images for you to enjoy (with their permission!).

Dear Ladies,

Many thanks for your very warm welcome, for the tour, and for sharing so much terrific information with us on Friday! OBVIOUSLY a great deal has happened in 20 years!  Our visit was the highlight of our Northern Neck tour!  We’re so glad we finally made it!  We also appreciated the tip for Garner’s Produce Stand and stopped on our way home on Saturday.

We visited Menokin on Sunday, November 20, 1994.  We were on a Smithsonian bus tour (“Washington and Lee on the Northern Neck”) led by the indomitable Edwin (Ed) Bearss, former chief historian of the NPS, author, and Civil War & American history expert extraordinaire. We’d also visited Washington’s Birthplace, Stratford, Christ Church, Martin’s Hundred & Carter’s Grove in addition to Menokin (order may not be correct); we had lunch at Tides Inn.

I think there are two different rolls of film but have only found the negatives for one.  It was a lovely and relatively warm day judging by the sky and the attire. I remember our visit as being at the end of the day — you may be able to tell from #31.  I like this one despite the sun because it includes the no trespassing sign!  I remember that we had to wait for someone to come and unlock the gate or barrier (don’t recall which).  It’s also clear that we did walk around — did not remember that detail…

My husband also took photos, and would have typically taken many more than I did.  Mine were somewhat retrievable (in box 12 of about 18), but no idea where his might be.  We’ll come across his eventually and be back in touch.

Thanks again for a lovely visit.