Park Service Invites Proposals to Lease Historic Home

By Sam Thrift Monday, January 09, 2012

The National Park Service is looking for a new business to take on a 10-year lease of the historic Somerwell House on Main Street in Yorktown.

The Somerwell House, located at 401 Main Street, is a part of the Yorktown Battlefield unit of Colonial National Historical Park and lies within the Central Preservation and Interpretation District of the Village of Yorktown. According to a press release, the purpose of the district is to preserve historic structures and to give an 18th-century feel to Yorktown.

The park service is considering proposals for the property, including retail shops, a restaurant with an 18th-century character, bed and breakfast houses, art galleries and educational museums. The combination of commercial and residential use will be considered, but residential use alone will not be permitted. The lease will begin July 1.

Mungo Somerwell, a local ferryman, built the Somerwell House around 1707. The 2,042 square-foot house has two stories and a basement, along with an outbuilding with an additional 256 square feet. There are two bathrooms and a small kitchen with appliances.

The Somerwell House was acquired by the National Park Service in 1931 and most recently housed an art gallery.

For detailed information about the facility, rental rates, submission requirements, and other additional information, click here. All proposals must be received by noon on March 9.