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Where is Charles City County located?
- Charles City County is a historic county in Virginia, situated between Richmond and Jamestown.
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What are the natural boundaries of Charles City County?
- The county is bounded on the south by the James River and on the east by the Chickahominy River.
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What historic sites are in Charles City County?
- Charles City County is home to some of the older and larger plantations along the James River and State Route 5 that were established in the Virginia Colony.
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Can visitors explore historic homes in Charles City County?
- Many of the historic houses are privately owned, but several houses and grounds are open to visitors.
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1. Berkeley Plantation
Tour riverside grounds and explore early American history on a peaceful fall trip.
Located on the banks of the James River in Charles City, Virginia, 1,000-acre Berkeley Plantation is one of the oldest plantations in America. The magnificent 1726 Georgian mansion is the oldest three-story brick mansion in Virginia. Originally called Berkeley Hundred after the Berkeley Company, the plantation was built by Benjamin Harrison IV and was the ancestral home to two Presidents of the United States: William Henry Harrison, his grandson, and Benjamin Harrison, his great-great-grandson. The plantation is now a museum open to the public. Knowledgeable guides in period costumes offer tours of the mansion. The mansion is furnished by lovely original 18th century antiques and artifacts. Grounds include boxwood terraces and flowering gardens ending at the James River.
12602 Harrison Landing Rd, Charles City, VA 23030
2. Historic Shirley
Walk through Virginia’s oldest plantation and admire romantic colonial sights.
Dating back to 1614 and operating since 1638, Historic Shirley is the oldest working plantation in Virginia and is the oldest North American family-owned business. It is located on a bluff on the north bank of the Japes River in Charles City, Virginia and it includes more than 700 riverfront acres. Plantation and farmare still lived in and managed by direct descendants of the original builders. Plantation home is considered an architectural treasure for its “flying staircase”, hand-carved woodwork and authentic structures. Visitors are welcome and tours of this National Historic Landmark include a visit to the Shirley Gift Shop with many items relating to the plantation. Shirley Plantation is an idyllic destination for a family picnic or a walk through the grounds. It is very popular for weddings and other special celebrations.
501 Shirley Plantation Rd, Charles City, VA 23030
3. Historic Westover
See Georgian architecture and stroll quiet gardens on an easy weekend visit.
Historic Westover is a 1730s historic tidewater colonial plantation on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. The plantation is the homestead of the Byrd family. Scenic State Route 5 runs to the north of the plantation between Richmond and Williamsburg. The plantation is listed as a National Historic Landmark for the architecture of its early Georgian mansion and the rich family history. Of special note are the steep roof, the tall chimneys and the elaborate doorway called "the Westover doorway" that was copied in many other mansions. During the early years of the Virginia colony, the plantation was used as one of the courts of Charles City County. Beautiful plantation lawn is shaded by 150-year old tulip poplar trees, with magnificent view of the James River.
7000 Westover Rd, Charles City, VA 23030
4. Upper Shirley
Savor local wine and enjoy scenic views on a relaxing couples escape.
Located near Charles City, Virginia, Upper Shirley is a historic plantation house built in 1868-1870 and enlarged in 1890. It is a two-story, 42 feet by 47 feet almost square stucco covered brick home with an overhanging hipped roof. The front facade has a portico with imposing Doric columns. The house was built by Hill Carter for his son William Fitzhugh Carter. He used materials salvaged from an 18th-century structure that was demolished at the neighboring Shirley Plantation. Added to the National Register of Historic Places, the plantation house is now part of the Upper Shirley Vineyards estate. Shirley Vineyards is a state-of-the-art winery located along the banks of the James River, offering breathtaking views of the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge, an island bird sanctuary.
600 Shirley Plantation Rd, Charles City, VA 23030, Phone: 804-829-9463
5. Sherwood Forest
Visit President Tyler’s home and discover unusual stories on a historical trip.
Sherwood Forest is a historic plantation located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia, about mile and half from the river. The main plantation house, built in 1730, was the home of John Tyler , the 10th American President, for the last twenty years of his life. Sherwood Forest was owned by two unrelated United States Presidents. William Henry Harrison inherited the plantation in 1790 and sold it in 1793. His Vice President and successor John Tyler purchased the plantation in 1842 and lived on it after leaving the White House. The house is still owned by the Tyler family. Harrison Ruffin Tyler, President Tyler's grandson and his wife, Frances Payne Bouknight Tyler, used letters describing the house to restore the home and grounds, including the decor, furnishings, and landscape. The plantation is open to the public and tours are offered by appointment.
14501 John Tyler Memorial Hwy, Charles City, VA 23030-3644
6. Piney Grove at Southall Plantation
Stay in period cabins and explore rural sights on a quiet, affordable retreat.
Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation is a property in Charles City County, Virginia that houses a collection of domestic buildings that present a great example of architectural traditions of the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries along the James River. These frame structures, homes of the common planters, were very different from the elaborate brick mansions of the wealthy families that were built along the James River. Piney Grove at Southall's Plantation is located on the ridge to the north of the river, in an area were plantations were smaller and homes more modest. Daily tours of the gardens and grounds include Piney Grove-1790, Ashland-1835, Dower Quarter-1835, Ladysmith-1857 and Duck Church-1917. There are also special exhibits and a nature trail.
16920 Southall Plantation Ln, Charles City, VA 23030, Phone: 804-829-2480
7. Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park
Picnic by the river and enjoy family-friendly outdoor sights on a sunny day.
Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Park is a 24-acre green area on the James River. It includes three shelters, picnic tables, restroom area, fishing pier, a boat ramp and a scenic trail. The park is a great place for fishing, bird watching and picnicking. There is a short boardwalk across the swamp leading to a trail through the woods. The park is home to eagles, blue heron and many other waterfowl. The park is part of a Virginia Civil War Trails. Its exhibit tells the story of Union army crossing the river in 1864. Six more historical exhibits, related to the 1600s, connect the park to the John Smith Adventures. The park is also a site of Chesapeake Bay Gateways and a stop on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife tour.
12580 Wilcox Wharf Rd, Charles City, VA 23030, Phone: 804-652-1601
8. Cul's Courthouse Grille
Savor comfort food and relax with friends on a casual, affordable outing.
Cul's Courthouse Grille is a homey, pleasant restaurant established in 2009 in a renovated 1872 country store in Charles City, Virginia. Many original details, such as the heart-pine floors, original doors and wavy glass panes, were preserved and give the Grille a historic, unique atmosphere. Cul's specializes in home cooking of comfort food and everyone’s favorites, sold at reasonable prices. It is open for lunch and dinner. Lunch includes salads and elaborate sandwiches and entres, which include Grilled Chops, NY Strip and Crab Cakes are only available for dinner. Cul’s has a nice outdoor space for warm summer days.
10801 Courthouse Rd, Charles City, VA 23030, Phone: 804-829-2205
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