Want a slice of history? Buy the Kennedys’ former Va. retreat

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the one-story country house at the heart of the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia's hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the one-story country house at the heart of the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia’s hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the interior of the one-story country house that is the heart of the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia's hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the interior of the one-story country house that is the heart of the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia’s hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the living inside the 5,000-square-foot house at the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia's hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the living room inside the 5,050-square-foot house at the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia’s hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows a patio at the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia's hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows a patio at the Wexford Estate, the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The home is nestled on more than 166 acres in Virginia’s hunt country. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows a large pond that lies on the more than 166 acres in Marshall, Virginia. Nestled on the property is the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows a large pond that lies on the more than 166-acres Wexford Estate in Marshall, Virginia. Nestled on the property is the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The property is selling for $5.9 million. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows a large pond that lies on the more than 166-acre Wexford Estate in Marshall, Virginia. Nestled on the property is the 1963 retreat that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed for her family. The property is selling for $5.9 million. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

Jackie Kennedy with her son John on Sadar and daughter Caroline on her pony Macaroni go for a ride in Middleburg where the first family spent many weekends.The Kennedy's home near Middleburg, called Wexford Estate, is on the market. The asking price for the four-bedroom, single-story house is $5.9 million. (Courtesy of © Howard Allen Studios) — In this undated photo, Jackie Kennedy with her son John on Sadar and daughter Caroline on her pony Macaroni go for a ride in Middleburg where the first family spent many weekends. The Kennedy’s former home near Middleburg, called Wexford Estate, is on the market. The asking price for the four-bedroom, single-story house is $5.9 million. (Courtesy of © Howard Allen Studios)

In this undated photo, Jackie Kennedy with her son John on Sadar and daughter Caroline on her pony Macaroni go for a ride in Middleburg where the first family spent many weekends. The current owners of the Kennedy's Northern Virginia home have put the house and surroudning property up for sale. (Courtesy of © Howard Allen Studios) — In this undated photo, Jackie Kennedy with her son John on Sadar and daughter Caroline on her pony Macaroni go for a ride in Middleburg where the first family spent many weekends. The current owners of the Kennedy’s Northern Virginia home have put the house and surrounding property up for sale. (Courtesy of © Howard Allen Studios)

Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy speak to reporters from the front door of their rented estate, Wexford, near Middleburg, Virginia after arriving, Thursday, August 29, 1980. The Reagan's will use the home as a retreat during the political campaign. (AP Photo) — In this AP file photo, then Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy speak to reporters from the front door of their rented estate, Wexford, near Middleburg, Virginia, after arriving, Thursday, August 29, 1980. The Reagan’s will use the home as a retreat during the political campaign. The four-bedroom home, designed by Jackie Kennedy for her family in the 1960s, is being sold by the current owners for $5.9 million. (AP Photo)

GOP Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy have fun with their dog James as they take a stroll at Wexford at Middleburg, Va., on Oct. 24, 1980. Reagan took a day off from the campaign to tape a TV appearance and meet with advisors. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski) — In this AP file photo, then GOP presidential candidate Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy have fun with their dog James as they take a stroll at Wexford at Middleburg, Va., on Oct. 24, 1980. Reagan took a day off from the campaign to tape a TV appearance and meet with advisors at the property in Virginia’s hunt country. Thirty-six years later, the home and surrounding property is for sale. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski)

Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, left, and Nancy Reagan are joined by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., right, in a horseback ride on the grounds of Wexford, a retreat the Reagans are renting near Middleburg, Va. Warner and wife Elizabeth Taylor live on the neighboring farm. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski) — In this AP file photo, then presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, left, and Nancy Reagan are joined by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., right, in a horseback ride on the grounds of Wexford, a retreat the Reagans are renting near Middleburg, Va. Warner and his wife actress Elizabeth Taylor live on a neighboring farm. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski)

GOP presidential candidate Ronald Reagan is shown relaxing with the morning papers at his Wexford home near Middleburg, Virginia, on October 24, 1980. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski) — In this AP file photo, then GOP presidential candidate Ronald Reagan is shown relaxing with the morning papers at his Wexford home near Middleburg, Virginia, on October 24, 1980. The home was designed by Jackie Kennedy as a weekend retreat for her young family in the 1960s. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows one of the rooms inside the Wexford Estate, a four-bedroom country house in Marshall, Virginia. Built in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the house as a retreat for her young family. Ronald and Nancy Reagan used the home during his 1980 presidential campaign. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the dining room inside the Wexford Estate, a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom country house in Marshall, Virginia. Built in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the house as a retreat for her young family. Ronald and Nancy Reagan used the home during his 1980 presidential campaign. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows the kitchen inside the Wexford Estate, a four-bedroom country house in Marshall, Virginia. Built in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the house as a retreat for her young family. Ronald and Nancy Reagan used the home during his 1980 presidential campaign. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

In this photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate, horses graze at the Wexford Estate, the more than 166-acre property a few miles from Middleburg that was once a retreat for the Kennedy family. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the yellow house that sits nesteled among the rolling hill and was built in 1963. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — In this photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate, horses graze at the Wexford Estate, the more than 166-acre property lies a few miles from Middleburg and was once a retreat for the Kennedy family. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the yellow house that sits nestled among the rolling hill and was built in 1963. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows part of the property that is part of the Wexford Estate and in the upper right the yellow house can be seen. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the house for her family. The family spent what would be their last weekend together there before John F. Kennedy travelled to Dallas, where he was assasinated in November 1963. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography) — This photo provided by Thomas and Talbot Real Estate shows part of the property that is part of the Wexford Estate and in the upper right the yellow house can be seen. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis designed the house for her family. The family spent what would be their last weekend together there before John F. Kennedy traveled to Dallas, where he was assassinated in November 1963. (Courtesy Thomas and Talbot Real Estate and Mona Botwick Photography)

(1/17)

Share This Gallery:

WASHINGTON — An understated, one-story house in the rolling hills of Virginia’s hunt country represents a happy time for one of Americas’s most iconic families.

And now a piece of that history is for sale.

Known as the Wexford Estate, the home and surrounding land in Fauquier County was once the weekend retreat of the Kennedys. It was later used by Ronald and Nancy Reagan for several months during one of Reagan’s presidential campaigns, said Mary Ann McGowan, sales director for Thomas and Talbot Real Estate, which is handling the sale.

The 5,000-square-foot house was designed by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and built in 1963 before the assassination of John F. Kennedy, who also spent time at the home, McGowan said.

“I think she loved to come here because she was a very private lady,” McGowan said of Jackie Kennedy. “She could live … comfortably.”

The Kennedy children enjoyed riding ponies and horses there, and the family mingled with other nearby residents and attended church in town, where the locals generally didn’t intrude on the family’s privacy, McGowan said.

The current occupants have owned the property for more than eight years, but don’t have time to enjoy the property, which serves as a second home. The home has been on the market for a little more than two years, and the new lower asking price for the four-bedroom house and land is $5,950,000 million, McGowan said.

The more than 166-acre property comes with a horse stable, pool and tennis courts and features views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

“It’s not what you might expect of a big mansion,” McGowan said. “It was a one-level home … it just captured the views, just a family home. It was not very big, it wasn’t an overwhelming house. It was just a country home,” McGowan said.

Jackie Kennedy had been coming to the Middleburg area for years to enjoy the fox hunts held there. And she was a frequent guest of her friend, botanist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, wife of the philanthropist Paul Mellon, McGowan said.

McGowan said the house was the backdrop for a very happy time for the family. And they spent what would be their last weekend together at the property, before Jackie and John Kennedy went to Dallas, where in November 1963 the president was assassinated.

A photographer captured John Kennedy leaving a church in Middleburg holding daughter Caroline’s hand that last weekend.

“That was the last service they attended before going to Dallas, which is really heartbreaking,” she said.