At the Isle of Wight County Museum, a grocery store from around the turn of the century is one of the interactive exhibits. Other displays explore colonial history, the Smithfield ham industry, the Blackwater River, and the Civil War and Cold War. Regional topics and different chapters of American history come together under one roof.

History in Buildings and Everyday Culture

The Smithfield Historic District, a colonial port town community, lies on the Pagan River. The district includes about fifty buildings of outstanding architectural interest. It is also connected to a local tradition: Smithfield hams have been produced commercially there for more than two centuries. Architectural history and food culture are among the many facets of this historic place.

Individual buildings also tell their own stories. The original core of Boykin’s Tavern was built around 1780 as a home for Francis Boykin. Exceptionally fine 18th-century paneling survives in two rooms. St. Luke’s Church, in turn, is an official historic shrine of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

At Fort Huger, the remains of the fort take center stage, including remarkably well-preserved earthworks and the remains of a furnace used to heat projectiles. The fort is located on Hardy’s Bluff above the James River. It opened to the public as a historic site in 2008; check current access rules before visiting.

Parks, Rivers, and Nature

Fort Boykin combines a park and history. The park covers 18 acres; visitors can enter the fort and take a self-guided tour of its history. Fort Boykin also provides access to a beach. Check visitor rules and beach conditions before your visit.

Windsor Castle Park covers 208 acres. Its built heritage includes a manor house dating to around 1725 and eleven outbuildings. The kayak and canoe launch also provides access to Cypress Creek and the Pagan River. Historic buildings and opportunities for activities on the water sit side by side in the same park. Launch and rental conditions may change; check before your trip.

The Blackwater Ecological Preserve in Isle Of Wight County offers a different natural focus. The site covers more than 300 acres and includes some of the rarest habitat types in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This sets the preserve apart from historic buildings and parks: here, the distinctive habitats take center stage.

Tours with Different Focuses

For a look at the American Revolution, a self-guided driving tour through Isle Of Wight County explores people and events from that era. The Isle of Wight County Museum also offers a tour about a mile long, starting at the museum. The two formats differ in their focus and stated length: the driving tour focuses on Revolutionary history, while the museum tour is about a mile long. Check whether the museum tour is available before your trip.

You can tailor your visit to the topics that interest you most: historic buildings, local food history, parks, habitats, or water activities. Each place and offering has its own focus, from the museum’s exhibits to the access points on Cypress Creek and the Pagan River.

Discover more destinations: Smithfield, King William County, Henrico, Spotsylvania County, Montgomery, Williamsburg, Greene County, Henry County

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.