After the end of the Civil War, the McLeans left Appomattox Court House and returned to Mrs. McLean's Prince William County, Virginia estate in the fall of 1867. When Wilmer McLean defaulted on repayment of loans. The "Surrender House" was sold at public auction on November 29, 1869. The house was purchased by John L. Pascoe and apparently rented to the Ragland family formerly of Richmond. In 1872 Nathaniel H. Ragland purchased the property for $1250.00. and later sold it for $10,000 in the late 1800's to Capt.Dunlap.
Dunlap and fellow speculators went through two or three plans intending to capitalize on the notoriety of the property, one idea was to dismantle the home and move it to Chicago as an exhibit at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Measured drawings including elevations and materials specifications lists were produced, the house was dismantled and packed for shipping, but due to cash flow and legal problems the plan was never brought to fruition. The home sat dismantled in piles, prey to vandals, collectors, and the environment for fifty years.
In 1947-48 the U.S. Park service rebuild the Mclean house to specs.
[attachment 23318 McleanHousein1860.jpg]
Notice the railing on the second story catwalk of the Mclean house. I just now went outside and took a photo of the railing on my 210 year house below... cool huh? In the last photo I even found a matching wooden chair and painted it white. Lee should have surrendered here.
[attachment 23316 Rails2.jpg]
[attachment 23315 chair.jpg]
