Overlooking what is still a rural landscape in this rapidly developing region, Pilgrim’s Rest is a reminder of the rich heritage of 18th-century architecture remaining in Prince William County. The house was built ca. 1790 for Henry Dade Hooe, around the time of his marriage to Jane Fitzhugh. Particularly noteworthy is the massive chimney structure, consisting of two exterior stacks joined by two levels of pent closets. Such chimneys were indigenous features of the county’s Federal-period houses, but only a handful remain. The body of the house is a typical side-passage frame dwelling. The exterior flush-board siding, installed in a 1955 restoration, is a replacement of deteriorated original siding. The interior of Pilgrim’s Rest preserves much original woodwork including paneled mantels and wainscoting. An unusual aspect of the plan is the concealed stair rising between walls rather than in the passage.

An increase of the Virginia and national register boundaries for the Pilgrim’s Rest property was approved in 2003-2004.  The updated nomination includes 135 acres, and contains the main house and outbuildings as well as many of the surrounding fields that have historically been associated with the property. When originally listed in the registers in 1988, the property consisted of 82 acres.  Four additional adjoining tracts totaling 53 acres were purchased in the 1990s, all of which were once part of an even larger original Pilgrim’s Rest farm.  The updated nomination also documents the Kinsley Granary, an 18th century stone building that was moved from the Buckland area of Prince William County and carefully reconstructed as a guesthouse for the property.
[VLR Approved: 9/10/2003; NRHP Approved: 1/16/2004]