Live & Explore
Museums & History
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Bacon’s Castle
Built in 1665, Bacon’s Castle is the nation’s only surviving High Jacobean structure and oldest brick dwelling. The house and grounds are open for guided and self-guided tours where visitors get to see the house as well as its 17th Century English formal gardens firsthand.
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Battersea
Built in 1768 by Petersburg’s first mayor, the Battersea house has seen countless historical events take place within its walls. The property also serves as one of the finest examples of a five-part, Robert Morris-style Palladian house, which is open for tours with reservations.
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Centre Hill Museum
Centre Hill was built in 1823 by Revolutionary War veteran Robert Bolling IV as a residential building, which it remained until 1936. House tours are offered on the hour, and guests will see examples of period rooms, architecture and decorative arts.
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Chippokes State Park
Chippokes State Park is a unique combination of outdoor activities and historical attractions. The park has traditional accommodations such as swimming pool, picnic areas, campgrounds, equestrian trails and James River beach access, but also offers a museum that gives visitors a glimpse at Virginia's early history.
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City Point National Cemetery
The City Point National Cemetery houses thousands of Civil War veterans, honoring their sacrifice. Hopewell served as a supply depot and central hospital during the Union's local campaigns. Separated into six sections on its 6.6 acres, the cemetery is filled primarily with identified soldiers as well as 1,400 unknown soldiers.
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Fort Clifton
Acting as a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War, Fort Clinton served as an important defense mechanism for Petersburg and Richmond. Fort Clinton is now open year round with no admission for those interested its history, hiking trail or other park amenities such as basketball courts and picnic tables. Also plays host to the Fort Clifton Festival each year.
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Historic Blandford Church & Cemetery
Blandford Church is the oldest structure in Petersburg, dating back to 1735. The cemetery is still an active burial ground with grave dates marked as far back as 1702. The grounds display a range of burial art, tombstones and landscaping from the 18th-20th centuries. When visiting the cemetery, one can find soldiers from every American conflict, including four generals.
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Keystone Tractor Works
Keystone Tractor Works not only allows visitors to learn about tractors seven days a week, but offers a walk down memory lane, diving deep into antique farm tractors dating back to 1917. The museum features hundreds of tractors on display, including various rare and beautifully restored models.
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Miles B Carpenter Museum Complex
Includes the First Peanut Museum encompassing the history of the peanut with memorabilia and machinery, and the home of Miles B Carpenter.
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Old Brick House
Colonial Heights' Old Brick House was built in 1685, serving as the oldest brick house in the region and possibly the entire state. Guests can make appointments for tours of the interior, or view the exterior from dawn to dusk daily.
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Old Towne Petersburg
Old Towne or Downtown Petersburg is the heart of the city, offering great foods, shops and history all within walking distance. Antique shops, local restaurants and boutiques line the streets through Old Towne, with every building and surrounding structure holding deep history relating back to the early 1800s.
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Pamplin Historical Park & National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
Pamplin Park is one of the region's most prestigious historical attractions, offering children and adults the opportunity to learn about the country's past, including The Civil War. Exhibits, guided tours, displays, live demonstrations and trails are just a few of the interesting activities groups can do on-site.
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Peter Jones Trading Station
Though only ruins are left, the Peter Jones Trading Station once served as a supply hub for exploratory and trade missions for those traveling west in the 1730s. A place marker at the site in Downtown Petersburg has historical photographs and a detailed story about the former structure.
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Petersburg National Battlefield Park
Some of the most influential events of the Civil War and the shaping of Petersburg as a city happened on its soil. The Petersburg National Battlefield parks showcase the story behind the battles, including the Siege of Petersburg, which was the longest event in the Civil War. The park has history and activities for all ages, connecting everyone with the past as we build our futures. Petersburg National Battlefield park encompasses multiple locations, including Five Forks Battlefield and City Point.
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Poplar Grove National Cemetery
Established in 1868, the Poplar Grove National Cemetery honors the fallen Union troops during both the Petersburg and Appomattox campaigns. Open from sunrise to sunset and free of admission, the cemetery reflects the tragedy that befell our nation during the war as well as the opportunity to see firsthand the human cost of war.
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Prince George County Regional Heritage Center
The Prince George County Regional Heritage Center exists to tell the story of one of the oldest counties in the country, the original Prince George County being founded in 1703. The center holds historical events, volunteer opportunities and field trips for local students.
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Siege Museum
This unique historical attraction is a permanent exhibition which offers a look into civilian life in Petersburg before, during and after the Civil War. The building itself also serves as an example of Greek Revival architecture, with artifacts and art displayed inside.
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Smith’s Fort
Smith's Fort is rich in history, dating back to the mid-1700s, with deep connections to John Smith, Pocahontas and John Rolfe. While visiting, you will hear the stories of these iconic figures in American history and view an impressive collection of fine colonial English and early American furnishings.
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Southside Depot
The Southside Depot train station is the oldest in Virginia being built in 1854 as a two story passenger and freight line, and played an instrumental role in the Civil War. The station is now a predominant piece of Old Towne Petersburg and was featured in 2011 "Lincoln" film.
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Surry County Historical Society & Museum
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, uncover Surry County's deep history and historical sites at the Historical Society & Museum. The society's most recent project is the restoration of the first motorized ferry which was used to connect Jamestown to the Scotland Wharf in the 1920s.
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Surry Nuclear Information Center
Head down to Surry County and learn via guided or self-guided tours how electricity works, and why nuclear power is so important today. Interactive displays and fun tests check your knowledge and allow you to follow the path from source to energy.
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U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum
The Quartermaster Museum has been preserving the history of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps since 1957, honoring their heritage and traditions since 1775, more than two centuries ago. The museum has over 70,000 visitors a year, including more than 17,000 soldiers in training.
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U.S. Army Women’s Museum
The U.S. Army Women's Museum is the only in the world dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the contributions of women to the Army. The museum tells their history from Revolutionary times to the present, with detailed research and interactive exhibits dedicated to telling their stories.
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Violet Bank Museum
The Violet Bank Farm served as Confederate General Robert E. Lee's headquarters in 1864, at which time the Battle of Crater took place. Free of admission, the house now serves the city and history buffs as a museum, showcasing American decorative arts, Civil War artifacts and sophisticated ceiling moldings.
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Wakefield Foundation
The Wakefield Foundation includes not only a local library, but meeting space, diverse classes and events for the community.
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Weston Manor
Weston Manor, built in 1789, overlooks the Appomattox River in Hopewell. The house serves as a classic example of Virginia Georgian architecture and has three stories. Open to the public through guided tours, much of the plantation's original moldings and chair rails are still intact.