Montclair in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Weems Botts Museum

Photographed by Kevin W., January 16, 2008

1. Weems Botts Museum Marker

Inscription. The Weems-Botts House offers a fascinating history on Virginia’s oldest chartered town and two of the more colorful personalities to have lived here: the Rev. Mason Locke Weems and attorney Benjamin Botts. Weems, biographer of George Washington, was the creator of the famous cherry tree myth. Educated as a cleric, Weems actually made the core of his living as a bookseller and author of almanacs, and initially used the museum building as a bookstore. By contrast, attorney Benjamin Botts used the building as his law office. Botts is best remembered as one of the lead lawyers who successfully defended Aaron Burr during his infamous treason and conspiracy trial.

Erected by Fortuna Center Plaza Merchants.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Education • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 35.765′ N, 77° 19.924′ W. Marker is in Montclair, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is on Fortuna Center Plaza near Dumfries Road (Virginia Route 234), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4116 Fortuna Center Plaza, Dumfries VA 22025, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this

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marker, measured as the crow flies: Williams Ordinary (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine (about 400 feet away); Potomac Path (about 500 feet away); Rippon Lodge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Troop Movements and Camp (approx. half a mile away); “Camp Fisher” Civil War Campsite (approx. 0.6 miles away); Alexander Henderson (approx. 1.1 miles away); Little Union Baptist Church (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montclair.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Weems-Botts House has its own marker, and you can see it at this link.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 5, 2014

2. Weems Botts Museum Marker

Photographed by Kevin W., January 16, 2008

3. Weems Botts Museum Marker

Weems Botts Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 1, 2011

4. Weems Botts Museum

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 1, 2011

5. Weems Botts Museum

Front Door<br>Weems-Botts Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 1, 2011

6. Front Door
Weems-Botts Museum

with National Register Plaque

Mason Locke (Parson) Weems image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 1, 2011

7. Mason Locke (Parson) Weems

This portrait of Washington's hagiographer hangs above the mantlepiece in The Weems-Botts Museum.

Benjamin Gaines Botts image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Wikipedia

8. Benjamin Gaines Botts

Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,065 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on September 30, 2025, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on February 13, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 5, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on February 12, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on October 4, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on October 5, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8. submitted on October 4, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.