The Land

Morven spans 2,913 acres, which includes forty-three buildings and a core property to be held in perpetuity. The property is maintained as a traditional Albemarle estate, and is is home to over 30 Virginia State champion trees that have been officially registered with the Virginia Big Tree Program.

A stone pathway to the formal gardens is flanked by boxwoods on each side.

A close up of bark from a tree is shown.

Freshly opened white flower blooms from a tree.

A large tree hands over the garden boxwoods.

Virginia State Champion Trees

The photos below catalogue trees at Morven that have been registered with the Virginia Big Tree Program. Each photo links to more information about that individual tree.

The Central Grounds

Morven’s central grounds encapsulate the majority of our utilized spaces. Spanning from the Japanese Garden to the incredible horse barns, Kitchen Garden, forested areas, and grasslands, there is a wide range of space to explore and enjoy. This stylized map portrays the layout of Morven’s central grounds.

Morven: The Challenge and the Opportunity

University stakeholders, students, and professional consultants have envisioned Morven’s future in a variety of ways - from the creation of an immersive in-residence experience for program participants, to the development of a trail system that would connect Morven to neighbors Monticello and Highland. View the report archive below!

***Hart Howerton Opportunity Assessment***

Screen Shot 2020-09-30 at 1.25.45 PM.jpeg — ***Charles Rose Residential Proposal***

***Hart Howerton GIS Analysis on Morven***

Paved Morven old entry drive weaves through a sunlit wooded area with tall trees casting long shadows.

Yellow Black-eyed Susan flowers with black centers amid green leaves.

A large tree in the backyard of the Morven Main Housewith a bench beneath it on a green lawn, with misty hills in the background.

Aerial view of Morven - a landscape with autumnal forests, open fields, and a mountain in the background.

Cluster of pink flowers in full bloom with green leaves.

Landscape with trees, a wooden fence, and a clear sky with clouds.

Close-up of purple irises with water droplets on the petals.

Morven hay barn with hay bales seen through an old wooden fence on a sunny day with blue skies.

A green frog sits on the edge of the Morven reflecting pond covered with lily pads

Close-up of rough, textured tree bark with vertical ridges.

Close-up of a red flower with multiple petals on a branch, with a blurred background of more flowers and foliage.

The road through the Morven historic core splits to the right and left, flanked by juniper tress on the right, with a small white rock building between the roads as mist settles on the mountains in the background. .