Williamsburg, Virginia

This hunting lodge is named for a famous naval battle, a reminder of Britain's global ambitions. Porto Bello was the hunting lodge of John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, and the last Royal Governor of the British…

Imagine the clatter and splash of water powering a bustling colonial mill, right here near King's Creek! This is the site of Whitaker's Mill, also known as Burwell's Mill, a vital industrial hub in the 1700s and 1800s.…

First permanent English settlement in the Americas, founded in 1607 on the banks of the James River.

Ever heard of a governor so unpopular, he sparked a rebellion? That's Sir William Berkeley, and this land was the heart of his Green Spring Plantation. In the 1640s, Berkeley transformed this area into a thriving…

Right here, on this island, you're standing on the very spot where English ambition first took root in America. This is Jamestown. In 1607, a group of roughly 100 English colonists arrived and established James Fort,…

Stand here, and you're standing on hallowed ground: the very heart of the first permanent English settlement in America. This church is built on the site of several earlier churches, each a vital part of the Jamestown…

Imagine standing where English colonists first planted their dreams in the New World. Carter's Grove, now a 750-acre plantation, whispers tales of early settlements and grand estates. Built in 1755 for Carter Burwell,…

Imagine a mansion so grand, it was called the finest in colonial America. That was Rosewell, home to the Page family for over a century. Begun in 1725, this Flemish bond brick masterpiece overlooked the York River and…

This unassuming building tells a big story about how trains connected communities in early 1900s Virginia. Built around 1907 by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the Norge Train Depot was a vital link for the small…

Imagine this: a vital river crossing, buzzing with travelers and goods. That's what Cappahosic House was in its heyday. Built around 1751, this house wasn't just a home; it was a ferry house. It served as a crucial link…

Pull over here for a sec – this is Lee Hall Mansion, and it played a surprisingly important role in the Civil War. General John B. Magruder, a Confederate commander, used Lee Hall as his headquarters in 1862. From here,…

This plantation was located just four miles from Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Four Mile Tree plantation, encompassing two thousand acres, sat on the James River's south bank,…

Imagine walking where generations have farmed the same land since before the United States even existed! Chippokes State Park isn't just a pretty spot on the James River; it's one of the oldest continuously farmed…

Imagine the York River teeming with fish, a vital resource for centuries. At Croaker Landing, now part of York River State Park, you're standing on a site with a long history. The area was likely inhabited by Native…

You're driving near a place touched by early colonial dreams: Smith's Fort Plantation. This land, though, is more closely tied to a later structure built in 1751. This plantation, also called the Faulcon House, became a…

Admire the Georgian style of this historic home, built around 1793. Timberneck, located near Wicomico, Virginia, is a two-story frame dwelling. The original three-bay design showcases classic Georgian architecture. In…

Pull over for a second; this unassuming spot was once the site of Fairfield Plantation, and it was a big deal back in the day. Built in 1694 by the wealthy Burwell family, Fairfield was a massive tobacco plantation. The…

Right here, near the York River, you're close to where Pocahontas's story truly began, at Werowocomoco, the heart of the Powhatan chiefdom. This was Chief Powhatan's main village when the English arrived in 1607. It…

Stand here at Walnut Valley and you're standing on ground that witnessed the lives of planters, enslaved people, and generations of Virginians. Around 1770, this plantation house was built, a testament to the…

Stand near Fort Crafford, and you're standing on the edge of a daring Confederate gamble. In 1862, Confederate forces built this pentagonal earthwork as part of the Warwick Line. It was meant to block Union forces from…

The decisive battle of the American Revolution, where Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in October 1781.

You're driving through ground zero for the birth of America! This isn't just another scenic route; it's where English colonists first planted roots and where the fight for independence reached its climax.Jamestown,…

Right here, at Lee's Mill, you're standing on ground that stalled a major Union advance during the Civil War. In 1862, Union General McClellan planned to quickly take Richmond. But as his troops approached, they ran…

Imagine this quiet corner of Virginia buzzing with rebellion! This is Bacon's Castle, built in 1665, and it played a key role in a pivotal moment in colonial history. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon led a revolt against the…

Imagine witnessing centuries of history unfold from a single spot. That's Grace Church in Yorktown. Built in 1697, it served as the York-Hampton Parish Church. Over the years, it underwent changes, including a Greek…

You're driving near a spot that's been strategically important for centuries! Gloucester Point has been a key location for military fortifications, dating back to colonial times. Think back to the American Revolution.…

Imagine the goods that passed through here in the 1700s, funding the British Empire. This is the Old Custom House in Yorktown. It was built in 1721, when Yorktown was a bustling port. This two-and-a-half story brick…

Imagine the James River choked with warships, locked in a deadly dance! That's what Confederate engineers hoped to prevent when they built Fort Huger. Named for General Benjamin Huger, construction began in late summer…

Pull over here for a minute. This is where the fate of a nation was decided. The Moore House is where the British surrendered to the Americans, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. In 1781, representatives from the…

Imagine life on the James River at Richneck Plantation, a colonial-era property that witnessed the early days of Virginia. Richneck Plantation was located on the northern shore of the James River, a prime location in…

Pull over here for a minute – this land has witnessed some serious Virginia history! This is Warner Hall, the ancestral home of Augustine Warner, who arrived here in 1642. Warner Hall became the seat of power for the…

This unassuming square has been the heart of Gloucester County for centuries, witnessing everything from colonial court sessions to modern-day community gatherings. The Gloucester County Courthouse, the centerpiece of…

Pull over here for a minute – this unassuming church holds a powerful story of resilience and community. Zion Poplars Baptist Church was built in 1894, during the Reconstruction Era, by a determined African American…

Right here in Gloucester, Virginia, stands a testament to resilience and progress: the T.C. Walker House. This was the home of Thomas Calhoun Walker, a man born into slavery who rose to become a lawyer, county…

You're near White Hall, ancestral home to a family that helped shape colonial Virginia. The Willis family, one of the First Families of Virginia, first settled here by 1642. White Hall, the 2+1⁄2-story brick home you…

You're passing by a place steeped in Virginia history: Ware Parish Church. This isn't just another old building; it's one of the oldest surviving parish churches in the entire Commonwealth. Ware Parish itself was formed…

Right here, on Robins Neck, you're standing on some of the earliest English roots in Gloucester County. In 1642, John Robins, one of the first English settlers, built his home here. The site was occupied for centuries,…

Imagine farming the same land for over 350 years – that's the story of Lower Brandon Plantation. Established in 1616 by Captain John Martin, a leader from the Jamestown Colony, it was initially known as Martin's…

Imagine living in a house built before the United States even existed! Lowland Cottage offers a rare glimpse into early colonial life right here in Gloucester County. The oldest part of Lowland Cottage is believed to…

You're near a place that played a vital role in supplying Union troops during the Civil War: Fort Pocahontas. Built in 1864 by African-American soldiers of the United States Colored Troops, the fort protected Wilson's…

Imagine standing guard here, knowing the fate of the colony rested on your shoulders! Fort Boykin, overlooking the James River, has been a strategic defense point since the early 1600s. While its origins date back to…

Imagine living in the longest frame house in America! That's Sherwood Forest Plantation, and it became the retirement home of John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States. Tyler, a Virginian by birth,…

Pull over here for a second; you're about to see a piece of Virginia history that stayed in one family for over two centuries! We're near Toddsbury, a house built around 1669 by Thomas Todd. Thomas Todd was the son of…