1994 - Menokin Foundation Incorporated
The Menokin Foundation was incorporated on October 25, 1994 by a passionate group of historic preservationists, landscape conservations, and local leaders that were dedicated to saving the Menokin house and surrounding landscape. This united effort set the tables for the Menokin Foundation to be gifted the house and land by T. Edgar Omohundro ceremonially on July 4, 1995.
The founding Articles of Incorporation document includes the following excerpt:
Signed Menokin Certificate of Incorporation
The purposes for which the Corporation is organized are as follows:
(1) To acquire ownership of that certain tract or parcel of real property located in Richmond County, Virginia, known as Menokin or Menokin Plantation (Menokin) , which was the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and his wife, Rebecca Tayloe Lee, and which has been designated by the United States Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark;
(2) To stabilize and preserve the remains of the 18th Century dwelling house of Francis Lightfoot Lee and Rebecca Tayloe Lee in order to honor their memory and their contribution to the establishment of the United States of America, and to prevent further deterioration caused by vandalism or the elements;
(3) To undertake a program of restoration over such period of time as the Trustees may deem appropriate pursuant to which Menokin house, its grounds and related structures, will be meticulously reconstructed, maintained and preserved for the education and enjoyment of future generations;
4) To begin as soon as possible a study of the archaeology, architecture and history of Menokin, in cooperation with participating colleges, universities and historical societies, to further the education of archaeologists, historians, architects and preservationists from a variety of disciplines;
(5) To provide interpretative lectures, tours and educational programs for the general public;
We believe that these many years later the original members of the Menokin Foundation would be proud of the progress made on this original charter on every front, including new levels of inclusion of all the stories of persons that lived here and as part of the lasting history of Menokin, as well as the cutting edge innovation in historical preservation evidenced by the Glass House Project.
Read the entire Menokin Foundation Articles of Incorporation below.
