The Historic Glebe House

The Full Story

The preservation of Glebe House and its remaining acreage is a success story made possible by committed Arlingtonians, community support, and the work of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT).

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The permanent preservation of Glebe allows present and future generations of Arlington to experience and better understand the long and unique history of Arlington, Northern Virginia, and the nation’s capital. Because of its importance to the history of Arlington and Virginia, Glebe House is designated a Local Historic District, a Virginia State Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Frank Ball, a member of the prominent Ball family and a Virginia State Senator from 1916 to 1924, lived at Glebe House for more than 50 years into the 1980s. The property later served as the headquarters of the National Genealogical Society.

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 In 2004, when the property was again on the verge of changing hands, NVCT worked with the Society to secure its long-term protection and partnered with preservation-minded owners Jonathan and Anne Ortmans. In 2005, the property was permanently protected through a conservation easement held by NVCT.

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A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that protects the house’s historic exterior and the property’s green space from destruction or alteration while allowing the property to remain in private ownership. The easement also ensures that the Glebe House grounds are regularly open to the public, allowing visitors to connect with the site’s history and understand the importance of preserving historic places and the land they occupy.

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The complexity and interest of this property is reflected in its changing "locations":  from the 1770s to 1801, it was part of Fairfax County; from 1801 to 1846, in the District of Columbia; from 1846 to 1920, in the City of Alexandria; and from 1920 to today in (the then newly created) Arlington County.