Monday, August 11, 2025

Trip Report: House of the Book

A picture of the front of House of the Book, a circular, tan concrete building with a wind scoop-like collar. On the center of the building is a cylindrical tower. A dusting of whispy clouds fill the background. The sun has partially lit the facade, with great shadows marking the rest.

Growing up, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers was one of my favorite TV shows. I loved all the action, good versus evil, the megazords, special powers, weapons, everything. While most of its filming took place on soundstages and nondescript natural areas, there was an exterior establishing shot of the Command Center, the Power Rangers' home base. It was a circular building with a wind scoop-like collar, sitting on an outcropping of rocks.

A screenshot image from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers TV Series. It shows a tan curved building, the Command Center (played by House of the Book). It sits on top of an impressive rock structure with striking diagonal lines.
Screenshot of the Command Center from
the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers TV series

I later learned that these were both real (and separate) places, the Vasquez Rocks and House of the Book. They have both been used extensively in many sci-fi tv shows and movies for their other-worldly looks and being located within the Los Angeles 30-mile Studio Zone. 

As you may have already guessed, I'm more into architecture than geology, so I really wanted to check out House of the Book. A couple years ago, I learned it was on the gated Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University, so that deterred me at first. Much later and more recently, I was able to get permission onto the campus to visit the building (Thank you Dan!).


The Brandeis-Bardin Campus used to be the land of the Brandeis Institute (later renamed the Brandeis-Bardin Institute). Founded by Dr. Shlomo Bardin with US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, it started in 1941 as an institute to help young Jewish American individuals discover/reconnect with their Jewish culture and tradition. Bardin didn't want the Jewish diaspora in America to completely assimilate into the American way of life, saying that both cultures could coexist in a person. The institute bought its California land in 1947. Dr. Bardin chose it due to its privacy/safety, as well as its resemblance to Israel. It's now one of the largest land parcels outside of Israel owned by a Jewish institution!

Dr. Bardin's teaching method was a mix of the American summer camp, kibbutz style living, and the Danish folk high school model. Music, dance, labor, and lectures were all part of the curriculum for the college-aged program. The institute was nonsectarian, so Judaism was taught broadly, presenting guests speakers from varying sects. The program became wildly successful and created a huge following, so much so that Bardin expanded the programming to include children/teenager and adult versions: Camp Alonim and House of the Book, respectfully. 



The drive up to the campus was unexpected. One moment, I was in the urban sprawl of the greater Los Angeles area, passing through an industrial park. The next, I was turning onto a pepper tree-lined lane at the base of the Santa Susana Mountains, the range that defines the southern edge of the Simi Valley. Passing onto the campus, I felt like I had been transported miles away from the freeways and highways right behind me. It felt like the quintessential summer camp ranch. Trails, trees, fields, dirt, and mountains all around. The buildings on the campus were an eclectic mix from different eras. There were wooden cabin buildings, simple early 20th century ranch structures, some 1970/80's structures, and then some modern conference center villas. It just has this entirely different feel, like it was timeless yet disconnected from most modern life.

As I passed beyond the collection of buildings, taking the road towards House of the Book, the ground started to rise. Soon, I was above the tree line and could see a wide, open view of the little off-shoot valley. It seemed like this spot was a bucolic little oasis, with no human touch except for the road and the clusters of buildings. As I continued upwards along the side of the mountain, I passed cows laying in a field and a couple people out hiking/walking. The road had a stretch where it was very steep. Definitely made me nervous, hoping my rental car had enough power to muster through it. Luckily, it did.

Looking at a paved road going down a steep mountain side. Green mountains, devoid of any human structures, cover the background.

The road turned, and suddenly House of the Book came into view along the next ridge.

A picture of the backside of House of the Book, sitting on the top of a lush green mountain. It is surrounded by many trees and bushes.
The backside of House of the Book

 A few more turns, and I ended up in the parking lot. House of the Book loomed in front of me. I had finally made it. 

A picture of a curving asphalt path going up an incline. Slightly above is the side of House of the Book. The building is partially blocked by trees and foliage.



In the 1950's, House of the Book [the adult programming/membership at the Institute] needed a space for its events. Thus the idea for House of the Book [the building] was born. After many years of fundraising, ground was broken in 1970. Construction was a bit difficult, as Dr. Bardin had set the site of the building on top of one of the campus' mountains, separate from the rest of the Institute's buildings. The road (actually steeper than it is today) made getting some equipment to the site difficult. The air conditioning units had to be air dropped onto the site via helicopters. Despite its obstacles, the $1.25 million building overcame them and opened up in 1973.

House of the Book was designed by Sidney Eisenshtat, a well-known architect who designed many Jewish synagogues in the L.A. area. The building had multiple purposes: a Bet Midrash (House of Study), a Bet Tfilah (House of Prayer), and a Bet Knesset (House of Assembly). Along with plenty of space for folk dances, concerts, lectures, classrooms, and Shabbat celebrations, it also had shelves of books available to study Jewish texts. The main hall had movable walls, which could open the space for large gatherings or section it off to make smaller breakout rooms. Windows and decor were kept at a minimum, as both Bardin and Eisenshtat thought that these would distract from the building's purpose. House of the Book proved to be a wonderful addition to the Institute, and continues to serve the Jewish community there well.



A picture of a curving concrete sign. On it reads "Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord" in Hebrew and English.
Part of the front sign

As I walked up the path from the parking lot, vegetation blocked the front of the building. House of the Book is angled so you never see the front until you finally walk up its curving path. Its placement on the mountain, being away from everything else on campus, it all comes across as very purposeful. You have to make a conscious effort to visit the hall. I really like it. It's all building up to the final reveal of the front.

And what a reveal!

A picture looking up at the front of House of the Book from the base of its cylindrical tower. From the perspective, the building looms tall against the blue sky. The building's tan, decoratively cracked facade is lit strikingly by the sun, leaving dramatic shadows over areas.


Here is was, finally, right in front of me! What a building.

It struck me that it was Brutalist. From Power Rangers (a show filmed in standard definition), it always looked like it was made of sandstone or marble. Not so! It's concrete, through and through. Its circularity and exterior details take away the stereotypical "Brutalist" feeling. It is more almost sculptural.

I have no idea what the exterior pattern is supposed to represent. I read a comment somewhere on the internet [that I can't find now] saying it wasn't a map, but didn't have any details other than that. Most of the design is indented into the wall, but there is one rectangle that protrudes from the facade. Why? Was there a mistake, or something that needed to be covered over?

A picture of the right-hand-side of House of the Book's front facade, featuring a decoratively cracked pattern. One square juts out, with the rest of the marks indent into the wall.



"Isn't exactly the mall, is it?" Pink Ranger Kimberly joked when the gang first beamed into the Command Center in Power Rangers. It wasn't exactly the mall inside House of the Book either. Instead of neon and blinking control buttons (which I knew wouldn't be there), I was met with a 2-3 story tall hall. With glazed brick floor tiles, earth tones, and wooden movable walls, it very much reflects the 70's era which it comes from. The curved walls continue in here with the overall shape of the room and the four circular breakout rooms jutting into the hall. The space is very empty and blank, but it was meant to be that way. It was also between events, with a maintenance man working on in one of the breakout rooms.

Here's a look around the hall:

Inside House of the Book, looking North. You can see two breakout rooms with wooden walls (one closed, the other partially ajar), the back wall, a light from a doorway out of sight, and a curving wall to the right.

Inside House of the Book, looking West. You can see four of the curved breakout rooms with wooden walls (all closed except the one on the right, which is partially ajar) and the lined back wall.

Inside House of the Book, looking South. You can see three breakout rooms with wooden walls (all closed), the lined back wall, light from a window and doorway out of sight, and a curving blank wall to the left.

Inside House of the Book, looking East North-East. You can see the lined back wall, a light from a doorway out of sight, and a blank curving wall to the right. In the center of the curving wall is a circular indentation with an out-of-sight skylight and a small raised (curved) platform.

The cylindrical tower that sticks out from the middle of the front facade, the one the Power Rangers would use to beam into the building, turned out to be a skylight above a raised platform.

A picture looking up into a circular skylight from inside House of the Book. The glass panels are made up of triangles placed in a geometrically-pleasing pattern. A metal chain hangs down from the center of the skylight.
The skylight in the cylindrical tower

It's a funny building. From the outside, it looks like there could be a lot inside. Inside, there are essentially three areas, the lobby/bathrooms, the hall, and then its circular breakout rooms. And this is all on one floor! No stairs or elevators anywhere!

A picture of the lobby of House of the Book. Pictured is a one-story space with a small window, trapezoidal sofas, and a wooden door leading to the bathroom.
The Lobby

A picture inside the smallest breakout room in House of the Book. It is one-story and circular. The ground is tiled. The walls have one wooden door, a couple of bookshelves, and some wooden paneled walls.
Inside the smallest circular room

The circular rooms feature books and some stained glass artwork (they were not illuminated when I was visiting, so I don't have pictures to share). It felt a little odd for there to be no chairs or tables by the books. I guess you could read the books on the chairs in the lobby? But again, the building wasn't in use that day, it's possible they have furniture when there's camp in session.
 


After I explored the inside, I went outside again to check out a path I saw that skirted around the side of the building.

A picture of a concrete path skirting along the edge of House of the Book. The left side is full of foliage. The right side is the curved, concrete wall of the building. A lobby window juts out into the path.

It turned out to lead to two circular plazas. The more spaces for gathering and dancing, the better! It was a lovely little hidden surprise.

A picture of two circular tan plazas at House of the Book. In the background is the main building, along with tall foliage surrounding the plazas on the three viewable sides of the image.

A picture of a circular plaza, surrounded by trees and foliage. Beyond the trees, you can see a mountain line.

A picture of the back of a wooden bench in the grass, facing the downward slope of a hill, foliage, and mountains.
A bench near the plazas



After I finished walking around, I just sat in front of House of the Book for a while. I noticed all the curves. I noticed one straight unadorned wall, all the lines, how the building seems symmetrical but actually isn't. I noticed how the sun hit the building, how the shadows had changed even in the time since I had first arrived. I just sat marveling at it, at my luck for finally getting to be there. Thinking about how I was glad I didn't try to enter the building the way the Power Rangers did and crash into the skylight in the tower. Thinking about how this was my present moment, but soon it would be my past, a memory of a moment.

A picture of the center of the plaza in front of House of the Book. In the middle is a red wooden circle. From that point, the concrete around it draws lines away from it like a sunbeam. A significant crack runs nearby. In the distance, you can see foliage and the entranceway to House of the Book.

An image of a curving pathway along an overlook next to House of the Book. To the left is a small grassy hill between the path and House of the Book. Foliage and some mountains can be seen above the overlooks concrete balcony.

An artsy picture of a side perspective on House of the Book's cylindrical tower and front concrete facade. The sunlight creates striking shadows across its walls.

An artsy picture of different concrete curves and lines along the left-hand-side facade at House of the Book. Inset is a large window of blue glassblocks, some circular, some thin ovals. 3 of the glassblocks are noticeably broken.

Another artsy photo of the right-hand-side of House of the Book's front facade and wind scoop-like collar, focusing on the lines. The image is at an angle, skewing everything slightly.

Eventually the present moment had to end. I said farewell to House of the Book, to the Brandeis-Bardin campus at American Jewish University, and drove away onto the highways and byways.

I'm so glad I got to visit. This really was a bucket list item for me. I wasn't sure if this little trip would make me feel anything. It was in one shot from a tv show from my childhood. But who am I kidding? I write a blog about architectural history, of course I felt something! House of the Book is a joy. I can't wait to see its next Hollywood appearance.

A picture of the front of House of the Book, a circular, tan concrete building with a wind scoop-like collar. On the center of the building is a cylindrical tower. The image is bordered by grass, curving benches, and branches of foliage.



SOURCES:
The Brandeis-Bardin Institute: A Living History by Jenna Leventhal (2012)
Catania, Sara "Divine Horseman Holds Reins at Jewish Institute" Los Angeles Times, 23 July 1994.
N.A. "Brandeis Center Plans Expansion: House of the Book Challenge Accepted" New York Times, 12 August 1973.

RECENT HOUSE OF THE BOOK MEDIA APPEARANCES:
Netflix's Beef (Season 1)
Kendrick Lamar's GNX music video
Chris Brown's Wall to Wall music video

OTHER READS:
Written by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, March 24, 2025

Oak Hill

Image of a brick house with a central two-story wing and one-story side wings. The building large colonial style windows with shutters and a brick arched doorway. A gravel entrance road leads up to the front. The house is surrounded by trees and grass.
Oak Hill, north façade

Just off of Route 15 south of Leesburg, Virginia is one of the last remaining presidential homes of a founding father still in private hands. Though, for better or worse, it might not continue to be. Let's take a look at Oak Hill, a hidden oasis in jeopardy.


In 1794, James Monroe and his uncle Judge Joseph Jones co-bought the property. Monroe didn't do much with it initially, letting his uncle and subsequent estate managers run things. However, after getting increasingly involved in federal government nearby in D.C. throughout the 1810's, he started to have more of a personal hand in matters. He primarily used the property as a plantation, run with a mix of hired laborers and enslaved individuals. 

During Monroe's presidency, he had the current manor home built 1822-23. The home seems to have been a collaborative effort, with James Hoban (also architect of the White House) and George Bomford the main designers, but Thomas Jefferson also gave some suggestions on the project. It featured a central wing with contrasting façades, a Georgian front entranceway and a Neoclassical back porch marked with an unusual five columns across its portico. 

A black-and-white image of a two story home with a portico, five columns across. On the end is a small one-story wing.
Oak Hill south and east façades, c. 1915
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

It was at Oak Hill that Monroe drafted his self-titled doctrine. It was also where he hosted the Marquis de Lafayette for several days during the latter's 1824-25 famed Farewell Tour through America. Following the end of his presidency, Monroe continued to live and manage Oak Hill. After the death of his wife and at the urging of his daughters, Monroe left the property in 1830 for New York City. He would pass away the next year.

Following Monroe's death, the property initially stayed in his family. After 1850, they sold it off, and it started exchanging hands every few decades. In 1949, the property was deeded to the current owners' family. 

Throughout all this time, Oak Hill has remained a working farm with 1,200 acres of land. The manor house has mainly stayed the same, with only its wings receiving extensions in the 1920's. It remains in terrific condition and well preserved.

Image of an end of the Oak Hill mansion, showcasing the two story wing addition added in the 1920's. The rest of the brick house is blocked from view by boxwoods and trees.
The west façade, expanded in the 1920's.

Due to its private ownership, it can easily come and go from public consciousness. It's also surrounded by large boxwood, so it's very easy to drive past it and not know it's there. However, sometimes its gates are opened up and the public is allowed to check out the property. It has been featured in many Garden Weeks throughout the years, as well as historic presentations.

An image of a gravel road, lined by large boxwoods surrounded by trees.. The road disappears into the distant boxwood foliage.

Recently, the current owners have decided to downsize in their older age. Many developers have proposed buying the property from them for tens of millions of dollars, but the owners have turned them down. Even though they are ending their tenure as stewards, they want the land and house preserved for future generations. Currently, they have been working towards the Commonwealth of Virginia making the house and land into a state park. While this was partially killed by the Senate's Finance and Appropriations Committee, Governor Glenn Youngkin has included an amendment to the state budget to consider Oak Hill as a state park. This is ongoing, so we shall see where it goes.

An image of the two-story portico of Oak Hill from the ground level. The columns and trim are white against the building's red brick. Boxwood and trees overflow from the edges of the view.
South façade portico 

If it doesn't become a state park, Oak Hill will most likely go into the hands of developers, who will fill its 1,200 acres with residential houses. Do we really need to fill every open space in Loudoun County with more houses? No. Loudoun has become too built up.

This is a property of national significance. It's part of our history, and the house and its lands deserve to be preserved. The public should be able to visit this home and learn all of the facets of life that were present on the property.

The Conservation Fund is currently running a petition to urge the Commonwealth to save Oak Hill. If you are so moved, you can sign your name on the petition HERE. 
 

I'll end this post with some more photos. I took these in 2019 during a Mosby Heritage Area Association (now known as the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association) event hosted at Oak Hill. Photography was only allowed outside.

Another image of the georgian front façade of Oak Hill. A line of three people spaced out walks toward the front door.

An image of the detail around Oak Hill's front door, including windows arching around the door. The window above the door has a sunbeam design, while the side windows have a curvy diamond. Between the door and the side windows are small, thin, white columns.
Detail on the front door

An image of four white wooden chairs and tables on the grass. They are looking out toward a distant view of hilly landscape, partially hidden by boxwoods and trees surrounding the grassy area.
View from the front yard

An image on the back portico at Oak Hill, looking towards the side. Large plants block most of the view. A line of people are standing to the right with their backs to the camera.
On the back portico

An image of the Oak Hill terraced garden. It is overflowing with plants. While green is the predominant color, there are dots of pink flowers and splattering of some yellow-green plants. A pathway of spaced-out stones goes toward the Oak Hill mansion in the distance, it's portico partially visible through plants.
View of the house from the terraced gardens
The decorative gardens were established in the 1920's.

An image of a stone path leading up to a yellow and white wooden shed. Plants with supports in dirt beds grow on either side of the path. Ivy is over the shed. The ground is wet.
Garden Shed

A view of the acres of land

A one-story wooden gable colonial building sits in a grassy area surrounded by trees. Directly out of the middle of its roof is a wooden rectangular tower three stories higher than the rest of the building. A weathervane sits on top.
Oak Hill Springhouse
Spring house from Monroe's time
Rectangular water tower addition added c. 1875

A golden bell from the USS Oak Hill hangs from a white metal arch. The arch is in front of a mass of ivy. Trees and an overcast sky are in the background.
Bell from the USS Oak Hill (1943-1969)

A gray floofy cat with yellow eyes meows at the camera. It sits on a stone floor with wooden doors/shutters behind it.
A fluffy cat on the property [name unknown]



Oak Hill NRHP File
Written by at 2 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Friday, August 9, 2024

The Ruins of Presidents Park Williamsburg

A line of white, decaying sculptures of men from the chest up.

What draws us to ruins? The nostalgia of yesteryear? The perverse nature of decay? The visual history etched in cracks and holes? The artistry of the perfectly imperfect? The juxtaposition of knowing this crumbling setting used to be taken care of? Catching a fragment of what-was before it completely disappears? Paying homage to great dreams no longer dreamt? Imagining the What it was, What happened, and What it could still be? Whatever it is, a single thing or a mix of many, we are drawn to these places.

--------------------------------------------------

In 2004, Presidents Park opened in Williamsburg, Virginia as a new history attraction, celebrating all the 42 elected leaders of the United States of America (as of then). After first starting at the visitor center, guests would stroll the grounds past 15-18' tall busts of each president, learning each man's history and accomplishments. It was meant to help boost the local stagnating tourist market. Unfortunately, due to many factors (a recession, high ticket prices, no repeatability), Presidents Park did not deliver and closed in 2010.

The busts, created by Houston artist David Adickes, sat fenced off in place for a couple years. In 2012, the property was being sold off, and construction recycling company Hampton Roads Materials was contracted to demolish the heads. The company's owner Harold Hankins couldn't bear destroying them, so he decided to buy them and truck them to his property. And there they have sat since, decaying and damaged. Between sanctioned tours and urban explorers visiting the property, the heads have gained a surge in popularity, more than they ever did at Presidents Park. Last year, Hankins publicly proposed a new development idea, The Ruines at Hankins Folly, with the presidents as its centerpiece. They would be preserved and stabilized as-is, as their ruined state has drawn more interest and attention than when they were pristine and intact. These plans were later put on hold as Hankins returned to the drawing board. 

I was able to to procure a tour ticket through John Plashal Photo, which is currently the only way for the public to visit the heads legally. This had been on my bucket list for quite a few years, and glad the stars finally aligned for me to visit!

The Hampton Roads Materials site is an organized chaos of torn-up concrete, dirt, and other materials. It's a little bit apocalyptic. After checking in, I parked my car by the main house, and walked down a lane. Passing foliage and a shipping container, the heads slowly revealed themselves.

An image of stacks of concrete rectangles, ripped on the short ends. They are laying by dirt, patches of grass, and rubble. The sky is cloudy.
Concrete waiting to be recycled

An image of a green shipping container. Its red door is open, revealing a corner of a shiny, navy blue informational sign. Laying against the door is a Presidents Park Museum tickets and information sign, featuring a patriotic painting of George Washington riding a white horse. Laying against the outside of the shipping container is 20+ white wooden sign frames, their signs missing.
Shipping container holding and surrounded by Presidents Park ephemera

An image of scattered people inspecting the decaying Presidents Park busts. The busts are 2-3 times taller than the humans.
The Presidents Park Williamsburg Busts!

The heads are gigantic. It's so cool to look around them and explore. Each one has weathered in a different way. Their number is incredible. I also like the haphazard, condensed layout they are in.

Guests were told ahead of time to wear boots. It was quite muddy the day I visited, so I was glad I did, as it would have been impossible to reach the busts in the back two rows without them.

A group shot of decaying presidential busts from Presidents Park. Pictured from left to right, John F. Kennedy, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, unknown, and William Howard Taft. All feature rain stains. Woodrow Wilson's outer layer of concrete appears to be flaking off his face, revealing rougher grayer layers.

An image up-close to one of the upper chests of a Presidents Park bust (president unknown). He is wearing a tie with a repeated pattern of the United States' Republican Party's symbol of an elephant with three stars.
Love the details captured

An image of the Presidents Park Abraham Lincoln bust in the foreground by himself. A little ways away in the background are the rows of other presidents.

An image of the Presidents Park George Washington bust, taken from the ground, shooting upward. Rain streaks run down the decaying bust's face. In the background are the rows of other presidents.

An image of the Presidents Park John Adams and George H.W. Bush busts (from left to right). There are earthworks to the left that have partially buried Adams' body. The picture is taken from on top of the earthworks, appearing almost eye to eye with the bust.
John Adams partially buried under dirt

I loved looking inside the heads, seeing their interior supports. I am always amazed at how something may look like a solid chunk of material, but in actuality is only a couple of inches thick.

A decaying bust from Presidents Park (president unknown). His jaw is missing, showing other holes and the rusting metal substructure the bust is made around.
A missing jaw provides a look into this president's head

Inside the lower bust/chest area of a decaying Presidents Park bust (president unknown). The floor is open to the ground. The concrete is supported by a rusty metal substructure. A chain hangs out from the head hole.
Looking through a hole in one president's shoulder/base

A decaying head from Presidents Park (president unknown). A good concrete chunk of the crown and back of his head is missing, revealing the rusting metal substructure.
The back of some president's head

An image of a white mock-up bust of Barack Obama sits in the grass. It is approximately 2 feet tall.
The 2' Obama mock-up bust
The park couldn't raise the money to commission
the full-size bust before it closed.

 
The experience is a good time. You're allowed to wander around the heads. At two points during our time, there were group talks, where John and the other tour leader went over the history and fun facts on the busts, as well as presidential trivia (with prizes!). Both were really informative and enjoyable to listen to. Now thinking about it, the tour was pretty much what the Presidents Park experience would have been when it was open. But now instead of the busts symbolizing a man/history, they themselves have a history that is visually represented on them. They're taken out of a museum setting and placed on the ground, allowing you to get a closer look at them. It's this failed funky roadside attraction that is thriving in a muddy field. It's so strange, but it works.


If you would like to visit the Presidents Park Heads, check out John Plashal Photo for all the upcoming offerings. I only took a regular tour, but there are specialty tours (evening, sunset, advanced photography, etc) available. Enjoy!!


--------------------------------------------------


Alright. So most people would stop at that point and say, that's the ruins of Presidents Park! And that's all good and dandy, but that's really only half of the story. The heads may have moved, but the former grounds are still around and have been largely untouched since the heads' removal. If you know me, I like sharing the whole story. So let's now visit the other ruins of Presidents Park Williamsburg!!


--------------------------------------------------


An image of a 2-story brick building. Over the Portico reads "Enterprise Holdings"

The former Presidents Park visitor center still stands. The outside appears the same as it did in its park heyday, an obviously imitation Georgian façade with a lack of windows towards the center and four awkwardly-narrow columns holding up a modest portico. The inside appears to have been reconfigured for office use, with the original lobby sectioned off. Along its backside is a second floor deck, where you could get views of the entire park.

An image of a 2-story brick building, featuring a covered deck on each level. On the right-hand side is an outdoor metal staircase, connecting the floors.
Backside of the former visitor center

An image of an elevated view of Presidents Park when it was still open. There is a winding, looping path, white presidential busts on gray bases, informational signs, and lampposts. In the back is the top of a gazebo-like roof structure.
Presidents Park, 2005
View from the 2nd floor deck of the visitor center.
"263_6311" by David via Flickr [CC-BY-2.0]

An image of a similar elevated view of Presidents Park from 2022. A rain-stained concrete path forks, its branches disappearing into a thick forest of trees. In the foreground is mown grass and one lamppost.
Presidents Park, 2022
View from the 2nd floor deck of the former visitor center.

The grounds immediately surrounding the building and parking lot are maintained, while the park grounds have been allowed to grow freely. What had been a meadow-like space has now returned to its woodland roots. The only things on the outside denoting this had previously been developed are a lamppost and the concrete path that disappears into the foliage.


Let's go in.



An image of the Presidents Park concrete path inside the forest. Many different tree branches and undergrowth is shown. The path ahead appears to disappear into the forest.
Following the concrete path

I visited on an August summer day, so not only were all the plants vibrant and the bugs flying, but the Virginia heat and humidity was out in full force. Did I bring water or bug spray with me? Well, they were in my car, does that count? No, no it doesn't. By the time I realized I should have brought them along, my car was unreachable. I was too deep into the forest.

I did not plan this well.

There were moments I felt these presidential woods were never-ending. The path seemed longer than I thought it would be. It's just a loop, right? 

... Right??

Another image of the Presidents Park concrete path inside the forest. Many different tree branches and undergrowth is shown. The path ahead appears to disappear into the forest.
Does this path actually go anywhere?!

And then, I started to notice the short cinderblock walls.

An image of plants in a forest. Partially obscured by the foliage is a crumbling gray cinderblock rectangular wall. It only goes a few blocks high.

Like sarcophagi scattered through a wood, all missing their lid and contents. The former bases of the Presidents Park busts, all still in place. Some close to the main path, others a bit farther away. 

Another image of plants in a forest. Partially obscured by the foliage is a crumbling gray cinderblock rectangular wall. It only goes a few blocks high.

An image of the side of one of the short cinderblock walls. The "outer" side has been smoothed by concrete and painted gray. Surrounding and within the cinderblock perimeter are plants growing.

An image of a small clearing. A bush obscures another crumbling, gray cinderblock wall. To the right is a white, wooden information sign that has fallen over.

You get the idea. Initially slightly interesting, they quickly became a consistent, almost-banal feature every few yards along the path.


Somehow, through this neverending wood, I found the halfway point, which is marked by the gazebo. It was situated at the far end of the park.

An image of tangled brown leafless vines and some other plants with green leaves. In the center of the vines is an opening to a platform with a step up and white wooden bannisters. Beyond is a deck in shadow with a wooden barrel.
My first view of the gazebo, buried by vines

An image looking up at the upper part of the gazebo and roofline. There are white wooden decorative details around the upper part of the opening. Around the roof are green plants and an opening for the sky.
Gazebo close-up, being swallowed by the foliage

Inside the gazebo. Leaves are strewn around the wooden floor. White bannisters and decorative details are along the gazebo perimeter. In the wooden roof are two white fans. The view outside the gazebo is of the thick, green forest surrounding it.
Inside the gazebo

After being reinvigorated in my journey, I was surprised to quickly run into another structure I had no idea about. It was a rain covering for soda machines. It looked to be in fairly good condition. 

A small wooden structure with a shingled roof in the woods. The walls are made of plastic, white lattice fencing. There is an opening on the right side of the front of the structure.

Inside the small wooden structure. The floor is a concrete slab, surprisingly not very dirty. The walls are made of white, plastic lattice fences. Trees and greenery surround the building.


The rest of the journey was punctuated by the odd object here-and-there.

The top of a lamppost

An image of a short, split rail fence surrounded by brown leaves on the ground and green plants.
Some snake rail fencing still in place

An image of a white, wooden informational sign, slightly obscured by trees and plants in a forest. The sign itself is missing.
A former informational sign

Another image of plants in a forest. Partially obscured by the foliage is a crumbling gray cinderblock rectangular wall. It only goes a few blocks high.
More cinderblock bases


Finally, after passing 42 cinderblock walls, I emerged out of the forest. Was it still the same year? Was it the same century??

(Yes and yes.) (It had only been an hour.)

Tears of joy ran down my face, or at least would have if I hadn't already sweated out all of the water in my body. I hobbled past the old visitor center and into my car, chugging down my water bottle. I left, tired yet accomplished. I returned home and immediately showered.


If you want to visit the former grounds of Presidents Park Williamsburg, make sure to ask permission at the former visitor center first. Plan your visit in the fall or winter, when the foliage isn't as full and the humidity and heat are nonexistent.


--------------------------------------------------


To conclude this post, while I haven't personally visited them, I want to share with you the other Presidents Parks and associated landmarks. 


In Leads, South Dakota, about 50 miles away from Mount Rushmore, there is a second abandoned Presidents Park. This was actually the first location, opening in 2003. Due to the same problems that plagued the Williamsburg location, it too closed in 2010. Unlike Williamsburg, South Dakota has more land available, both to give each president their own space, and for future expansion. 

The above video was taken in 2022. The busts are still in place along their path, and somehow are in really good condition. I've seen videos of Presidents Park Williamsburg while it was open, and some of the busts were weathering even back then. Maybe the humidity/weather combo in Virginia didn't bode well to the busts?

Then there was a set of busts made for an unrealized THIRD Presidents Park that would have been located in Pearland, Texas in the mid-2000's. Unfortunately, it never came to be. In 2020 (pre-pandemic), there was a groundbreaking in Huntsville, Texas for a public park that would have utilized the heads. Unfortunately, there does not appear to have been any other news since that announcement, so I'm not sure if that park is still happening. In the meantime, these busts are stored at artist David Adickes' studio in Houston, Texas, which is viewable both from the road and close-up whenever his studio is open to the public. This is also the only set that has a full-sized Obama bust!


Finally, there are individual busts scattered around*! Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush (#43) are hanging out at an RV park in Hermosa, South Dakota. There's an Eisenhower in a park in Denson, Texas, which is where he was born. My favorite I've stumbled across is American Statesmanship Park in Houston, Texas. Also known as Mount Rush Hour for being visible from a major highway interchange, it features Washington, Lincoln, and Texas' founding fathers Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. It's an interesting match-up. I'm sure there could be more busts, but these are the ones I've been able to look up.

* It is unclear to me if some of these were made specifically for these locations or borrowed from one of the existing Presidents Park sets.


--------------------------------------------------


So, here is the final conclusion of this post, but maybe this is just the beginning for you and your journey to discover your own ruins of Presidents Park. Bon Voyage, safe travels, and please bring a water bottle! 


SOURCES:

Written by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)