The house that was built for Thomson Francis Mason, Historic Huntley, is now open to the public. Thomson Francis Mason was the mayor of Alexandria, D.C. from 1827-30 and a grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. He used the federal period villa, which was built for him in 1825, as a summer retreat.
The 19th century architectural gem is located at 6918 Harrison Lane in Alexandria, near the main entrance to Huntley Meadows Park . Historic Huntley is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Since the Park Authority obtained the house and its surrounding 2.5 acres in 1989, it had been open only during semiannual events and for school and scout tours until undergoing recent renovation. Now the buildings are open for scheduled programs and tours, as well as Saturday tours between the months of April through October.