Among the park’s most significant historic properties is Judge Morris Estate, a beautifully preserved country estate with a history spanning more than two centuries. Originally known as Chestnut Hill, the property traces its history to the years following the American Revolution. In 1792, John Barclay constructed the main five-bay, two-and-a-half-story stone house that remains at the heart of the estate today. In 1934, Judge Hugh M. Morris purchased the property and restored the historic residence in the Colonial Revival style while preserving many of its original architectural features. Following his death in 1966, the estate was left to the University of Delaware. In 1998, the State of Delaware acquired the approximately 500-acre property and incorporated it into White Clay Creek State Park, preserving both the historic estate and its surrounding landscape allowing a new generation of visitors to experience and become part of the estate’s continuing story.