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There’s no time like the present to visit Smithfield & Isle of Wight and create
precious memories with your grandchildren. There’s something here for all ages
– history, art, great food, concerts & shopping. And with free attractions, lodging
specials and a guaranteed small-town pace, your time together is sure to be
hassle-free. Choose from one of the itineraries below or call the Visitor Center
for further information and help in planning your grand-travel escape.

 

More Grand-Travel Ideas!

 

The Role of Smithfield & Isle of Wight County in the Civil War

 

Arial view of Historic Fort Huger located on the James River.

 

Established in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of the Virginia Colony, Isle of Wight County, with its quaint towns of Windsor & Smithfield, is rich in history and played a key role in the Civil War.
Begin your visit in downtown Smithfield at the Visitor Center - also home to the Arts Center @ 319 - for information and maps of the various attractions in the county.

The Isle of Wight County Museum offers an overview of the county’s history and the world's oldest ham, as well as a Civil War display and information on the Roberts Brothers of Windsor, seven brothers who fought in the Civil War.

The Battle of Smithfield took place in January of 1864 when the Union gun boat USS Smith-Briggs landed where Smithfield Station sits today. After a skirmish, the Confederates trapped 150 Union troops, who then surrendered. The gold eagle from the ship is on display at the Old Courthouse of 1750.

Historic Fort Huger, the “Gateway to the Confederate Capital,” situated on the bluffs of the James River, was built by slaves and freed slaves. It features a self-guided walking tour to view mounted cannon and the ghost fleet on the James River. The names of those who worked and were stationed at the fort are displayed.

Further south along the James, in a beautiful natural setting, Fort Boykin Historic Park was begun in 1623 to protect the early colonists. Between June 1861 and May 1862, the Confederate Army rebuilt the fort and built Fort Huger as a part of their defensive system. It was one of in a series of earthworks designed to prevent inland invasion by the Union, whose buildup at the mouth of the James River posed a severe threat to Richmond, the Confederate capital.

Both forts were engaged in a critical battle in May of 1862. When overwhelmed by Union warships on the James, the forts fell, thus opening the river route to the Confederate Capital.

While the battle over the forts raged, the county’s Clerk of the Court charged his slave Randall Boothe to take the court records into hiding. He took them by cart to Greenville and Brunswick Counties just before the Union cavalry arrived in July. After the war Boothe returned the records, was freed and served as Courthouse Caretaker. Isle of Wight County’s rich history has been preserved because Boothe’s efforts prevented its records from being destroyed. You can visit the Courthouse of 1800, still in use today, and peruse these records yourself.

Other sites include Saint Luke's Church (c1632), where Confederates camped & stabled horses in the church, Boykin’s Tavern, Ivy Hill Cemetery and the Schoolhouse Museum.

The county offers historic reenactments throughout the year. Museum staff is available for programs with advance notice.

 

Smithfield & Isle of Wight County is proud to host

three sites on the Virginia Civil War Trail!

Download the story of "the Peninsula Campaign"

produced by the Virginia Civil War Trails.

Page One

Page 2 with Map

 

CLICK HERE FOR LODGING PACKAGES & SPECIALS
From elegant B&B’s, waterfront and historic inns to national chains,
Smithfield & Isle of Wight offer distinctly different establishments
to suit any traveler’s preferences and needs.

 

 

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Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB Staff:

Judy Hare Winslow, Director of Tourism

Lois Chapman, Marketing & Public Relations Manager

Cheryl Whitener, Visitor Center Manager

Terry Rhinier, Event Coordinator

Cheryl Ketcham, Farmer's Market Manager

Join our email list to receive our Tour-E Newsletter listing of local events.

 

Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB and the Isle of Wight Arts League are partially supported by funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.