Chippokes Plantation State Park

Chippokes Plantation State Park

House at Chippokes Plantation

Location of Chippokes Plantation State Park in Virginia

Location Surry County, Virginia
Nearest city Newport News
Coordinates 37°8′12″N 76°43′39″W / 37.13667°N 76.72750°W / 37.13667; -76.72750Coordinates: 37°8′12″N 76°43′39″W / 37.13667°N 76.72750°W / 37.13667; -76.72750
Area 1,683 acres (681.1 ha)
Administered by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Chippokes Plantation
Area 1,403 acres (567.8 ha)
Built 1829
Architectural style Italianate
NRHP Reference # 69000283[1]
VLR # 090-0070
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 01, 1969
Designated VLR November 5, 1968, July 15, 1986[2]

Chippokes Plantation State Park is located at 695 Chippokes Park Road, Surry, Virginia. It is in a rural, agricultural area off the James River and Route 10 in Surry County, and is protected under the state park system.

History

Chippokes Plantation was established in 1617 by Captain William Powell of the Jamestown Settlement in the Virginia Colony. In 1967, the 1,700-acre (6.9 km2) plantation was donated to the Commonwealth by Mrs. Victor Stewart for use as a state park.

One of the oldest working farms in the nation, Chippokes has kept its boundaries since the 17th century. The structures and artifacts on the property reflect plantation life from the early 17th century to the present. The antebellum Chippokes Mansion and the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum both offer scenic tours of the estate, cultivated formal gardens and woodlands.

Noted for its continuous agricultural production and modern recreational facilities, amenities include fishing, trails, camping and cabin rentals. The annual community event, the Steam and Gas Festival, is usually the weekend after Memorial Day and offers a wide variety of arts, crafts and music along with tractor and saw milling demonstrations.

The Pork Peanut & Pine Festival is held annually the third full weekend in July and celebrates the regions three most celebrated resources - pork, pine and peanuts. The festival includes arts & crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.[3]

Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum

Opened in June 1990, the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum, one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country, is an agriculture museum with many exhibits and displays of farm tools and tools used by craftsmen such as the blacksmith, wheelwright, cooper and cobbler. Others exhibits focus on farm animals, processing, preserving, small tools and housewares and farm techniques. There is also a working sawmill. The seven building complex is open for self-guided tours. The museum is operated by the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Pork, Peanut & Pine Festival Home Page".
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