The original slave quarter and smokehouse at Bacon’s Castle stand as rare examples of Virginia’s vernacular architecture. Built in 1829 and 1844, respectively, their preservation tells the story of plantation life in Southside Virginia. This fall, we began restoring the outbuildings to ensure their stability for future generations. Restoration of the smokehouse will consist …
This November, commemorate Native American Heritage Month by learning more about the complicated and intertwined story of the people who have made Virginia home. The First People of Virginia have a history stretching back thousands of years. Today, 11 tribes are recognized in the Commonwealth: the Chickahominy in Charles City County, the Eastern Chickahominy in …
Every historic building in Virginia has a story contained within its walls. From small residential homes to great churches and castles, hidden narratives can always be found — if you know where to look. Here are the intriguing stories behind some of the oldest buildings in the Commonwealth. Jamestown Church Current view of the rebuilt …
With no electricity and limited resources, games played at parties in colonial Virginia were often quite different from modern forms of entertainment. Some games were safe and laid-back, while others went out of style over two-hundred years ago for good reason. In any case, here are some of the most interesting colonial games Virginia had …
Few states can claim to have a history as rich or extensive as Virginia, the home of the first successful English colony in the United States. Though there are far too many places rich in history to fit onto a single list, here are some that you must-see while hitting the road this summer! Richmond …
All throughout June, stop by the John Marshall House to learn how race and identity were constructed in early Federal America and the role the Marshall court played in its creation. Several court cases were brought in these years that show the evolution and change in perception of racial identity throughout this period. They include: …
Every historic place has a unique preservation story. There’s something about it that makes it special to the people who live near it, something that makes it part of the fabric of that community. Every person passionate about historic places and their history has a unique preservation story. Something that compels them to spend their …
This Poetry Month, we’re exploring underrepresented stories and poets. From Lucy Terry Prince to Paul Laurence Dunbar to Maya Angelou, African American poets explored rich and complicated themes in several genres, from verse to ballads and epics and every form in between. In the early parts of the 18th century, many African American poets emulated …
Native American poetry is steeped in oral tradition, which is the legacy of passing down cultural stories from older generations to younger generations through speech. In fact, within Native American culture, poems are often referred to as “songs” because they were traditionally sung not written. Historically, Native American poetry has focused on many themes, including …
The romantic poetry shared between Sidney Lanier and Virginia Hankins stands as one of the most passionate periods in Bacon’s Castle’s history. Born in Georgia, Sidney Lanier served in the Confederate Army and became well-known for his highly musical poems. While serving in the Confederate Army in Virginia, he met Virginia Hankins, who lived at …
