Court End Cache Traditional Cache
CardinalReviewer: There has been no response from the CO. Without recent communication on future cache availability, we can not hold this area for you any longer and so this cache is being archived. Please pick up any remaining cache bits as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding,
CardinalReviewer
Volunteer Geocaching.com Reviewer
Known Virginia Geocaching Guidelines
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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This cache will lead you through the stomping grounds of one
of Richmond's leading 19th century citizens. He was a founding member of the Virginia Historical Society, the volunteer fire department, the Quoits club, and the Richmond Public Library among other achievements. Long description contains historical information but also spoilers--don't read further until after you find the cache. Bring your own pen.
John Marshall was Richmond's leading citizen from the late 18th century through his death in 1835. In addition to the local accomplishments mentioned in the cache description, Marshall also served in the Revolutionary War, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1782, and served a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention, the US House of Representatives, and as Secretary of State to John Adams.
Marshall is best known, however, as the "Great Chief
Justice", so-called because he transformed the Supreme Court from an unimportant legislative body into the third separate-but-equal branch of the United States Government. His decisions established the principle of judicial review, which gave the Supreme Court the power to review laws and determine their constitutionality.
John Marshall built this house between 1788 and 1790 and lived here with his wife (Mary Willis Ambler Marshall, known in the family as Polly), their six children, and approximately a dozen enslaved African American domestic servants until his death in 1835.
The house is listed on the National and Virginia historic
registers and is the oldest surviving brick house in the city of Richmond. The house contains a large collection of original
Marshall family furnishings including one of the largest
collections of Richmond-made furniture in the country.
In the early 19th century, this part of Richmond was known as Court End because of its proximity to the newly-built
Courthouse. Marshall, like many of his friends and relatives, purchased an entire city block on which to build his home. Originally the house was surrounded by a law office, laundry, kitchen, carriage house,and garden. The river would have been visible from the upstairs windows.
The property remained in the Marshall family until 1911
when it was sold to the City of Richmond. The City originally
intended to tear the house down to build the John Marshall High School. However, local preservationists rallied to save the home from destruction. The high school was eventually directly behind the house (visible in the photo above). In the 1960s the school was razed to make way for the John Marshall Courthouse.
The John Marshall House is owned by Preservation Virginia and has been open to the public since 1913. It is open seasonally for guided tours. Visit the
John Marshall House website for more information.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ybbx oruvaq gur fvta