Excursions From Williamsburg

Virginia State Road 5 which runs between Williamsburg and Richmond, following the James River, is a scenic winding road through the Virginia countryside. Many Historic Plantations, some settled by the English as early at 1613, are found along this road. We stopped to view several plantations and took guided tours of two. This area is also rich in Civil War History.

Berkeley Plantation, a 1726 mansion is the birthplace of both Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and William Henry Harrison, 9th US President.

"TAPS", was composed and first played at the Berkeley Plantation while Union General George McClellan used Berkeley as a Civil War Headquarters.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln visited Berkeley and reviewed General McClellan's Army of 140,000 Union soldiers on the front lawn.
The grounds feature five terraces that contain flower gardens along the James River.

Shirley Plantation is the oldest continuously owned family business in the United States since 1638.

The mansion built in 1723, was the birthplace of General Robert E. Lee's mother. Robert E. Lee visited this home frequently.

The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, run by the Virginia DOT, is a 15 minute free ferry ride across the James River to Surry, Virginia.

While in Surry, we enjoyed a traditional Virginia ham dinner at the Surry House. The meal consisted of an old fashioned salt curred country ham slice, baked apples and mashed potatoes.

In Smithfield, home of Smithfield Virginia Hams, Historic St. Luke's Church has persevered for nearly four centuries. The old brick church, built in 1634, is among the oldest churches standing in America.

After a guided tour of the church we walked the cemetery grounds remembering that Confederate soldiers once camped in the cemetery during the Civil War.

Nauticus is a waterfront maritime science museum in Norfolk, Virginia. We spent more than half a day exploring all of the maritime exhibits.

With only two hours left, we stepped outside to explore the permanently moored U.S.S. Wisconsin. The Battleship Wisconsin is one of the largest and last battleships built by the U.S. Navy.

Wisconsin, commissioned December 7, 1943, was used in WWII, the Korean War and Operation Desert Storm. The self guiding tour allowed us access to the outside decks and large portions of the inside.

Nauticus Museum closed at 5 p.m., so we wandered a few blocks through downtown Norfolk looking for an interesting place for dinner. We found this converted church now called Freemason Abbey Restaurant. The building was constructed in 1873 by the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church. We had an outstanding dinner. Kurt enjoyed roasted rabbit, while Virginia had the prime rib special.

On another day trip to Norfolk we visited the MacArthur Memorial and Museum. It explores the life and military career of one of the most highly decorated generals, Douglas MacArthur. His trademark cap, corncob pipe, and sunglasses are among the many relics. We watched a documentary on MacArthur's life in the Visitor Center, located next door to the memorial.

In the main rotunda, the tomb containing MacArthur and his wife are surrounded with inscriptions and flags of his military career.

We took a 45 minute bus tour of Naval Station Norfolk, the World's largest Navy installation. The base is home port to over 100 ships of the Atlantic Fleet. Unfortunately, security did not allow cameras.

Richmond, an hour away, is rich in attractions. In the heart of downtown is the White House of the Confederacy, built in 1818, the executive mansion of the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis and his family during the Civil War.

Next door to the White House is the Museum of the Confederacy. Some 20,000 artifacts including military equipment and clothing that belong to leaders such as Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart and Stonewall Jackson.

The Virginia State Capitol building was designed by Thomas Jefferson. First used in 1788, it is home to America's oldest legislature. The Bill of Rights was ratified here in 1791.

A magnificent statue of George Washington stands under the interior dome of the two story rotunda, surrounded by marble busts of seven other Virginia born presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson.

Agecroft Hall, built in the 15th century in Lancashire, England, was dismantled and relocated to Richmond, overlooking the James River, in 1925. We took a guided tour of this elegant Tudor Manor House.

Fort Monroe was built between 1819-1834 and is known as the Gibraltar of the Chesapeake. It is the largest stone fortification built in the US with walls stretching 1.3 miles and enclosing 63 acres of land.

A moat surrounds the structure, which is in the shape of a seven pointed star. After the Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned here until 1867.

A day trip to Virginia Beach included a stop at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Next after passing security at Fort Story, we went to Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. This is the first public works facility authorized by congress, completed in 1792. From the top of the lighthouse you can see the military base as well as Chesapeake Bay.

In 1881 a new lighthouse replaced the old Cape Henry Lighthouse. The site of the battle between the British and French Navy, during the siege of Yorktown, was just off shore.

This statue of King Neptune is along the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, just beyond the Old Coast Guard Station Museum.

The Mariners' Museum in Newport News contains one of the world's most comprehensive maritime collections. This majestic gilt covered figurehead known as the Lancaster Eagle, dates back to the 19th century.

The USS Monitor Center, also located at the Mariners' Museum, houses artifacts such as the gun turret and steam engine from the Union ironclad that came head to head with the CSS Virginia (Merrimac)during the Civil War.

A highlight of the Museum is the gallery of 16 intricately carved miniature sailing vessels crafted by August and Winnifred Crabtree.




After two full weeks weeks of touring, we found there is still much more to do in this very interesting and historic area of America.