Unique historic site Menokin excited about NEH grant and boost it provides to work there

Officials at Menokin, the 1769 home of Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lightfoot Lee, were thrilled to learn of a $500,000 grant awarded them by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Beyond all the important work those dollars can support, Menokin staffers hope that the NEH grant may help in another way.

“We think that this stamp of approval, the validation of the National Endowment of Humanities, would have to open doors for us,” said Leslie Rennolds, assistant director of the Menokin Foundation.

She added, “For the National Endowment for the Humanities to say with this grant that this is a worthy project, we hope it will lead to more people sitting up and taking notice. We think it adds levels of excitement and an energy boost to our program.”

Menokin Executive Director Sam McKelvey put it this way: “The NEH grant will have an extraordinary impact on our site and the region as we move this engaging and forward-thinking project into the national spotlight. Through research projects and visitors, Menokin will play an active role in local economic development.”

For those not familiar with Menokin, it is 500 acres of historic landscape in Richmond County that hold the remains of a former manor house that many consider to be one of Virginia’s best examples of Colonial architecture. It was the home of Francis Lightfoot and Rebecca Tayloe Lee.