319 Main Street, Smithfield
(757) 357-5182 or (800) 365-9339

Hours: Monday thru Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving,Christmas & New Year's Days.

Smithfield Historic District Map

Map Listings

Historic Downtown Walking Tour

"Hams, History, Hospitality & HeART" Quiz

Our Visitor Center and the offices for the Smithfield & Isle of Wight Convention & Tourism Bureau are located at 319 Main Street in Historic Downtown Smithfield. The center also shares space with its tourism partner the Arts Center @ 319.

Make sure your first stop in town is the Visitor Center for a historic walking tour map and for information on all our area attractions, lodgings, dining options and special events. Pick up sample itineraries that fit a one-day trip to town or a week-long stay. Personalized itineraries are also available, as well as sample walking and photo tours. We also offer docents for group tours if given notice of your visit.

Smithfield's Newest Attraction!

Grand Opening Ceremony,

Saturday, May 22, 2010

301 Jericho Road, Smithfield, (757) 356-9939

Located right in downtown Smithfield, this brand new riverside park features 4 miles of a woodland trail system, orchards, picnic areas, a dog park, a state-of-the-art kayak and canoe launch, fishing pier, scenic overlooks and the Windsor Castle Historic Site.

Open daily dawn until dusk.

Free admission

New Location!

319 Main Street

Smithfield, (757) 357-7707

Hours:

Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.

The Arts Center @ 319, co-located with the Smithfield Visitor Center, exhibits the works of local and regional artists in multiple shows throughout the year. The Arts Center also hosts working studios for eight resident artists, a gift shop that features creations by its member artists and an arts classroom. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the resident artists as new works are being created.

"Art on Demand" at the Arts Center @ 319

Call to schedule a class at your convenience. (One week notice needed). Minimum of 3-5 people required ($15 per person). Ages 8-adult (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult). Classes are approximately 1 hour and instructors vary. Choose from acrylics, beaded animal jewelry, painted heart boxes or pigs, pastels, pop-up books or wet felted flower projects.

103 Main Street, Smithfield

(757) 356-1223, (757) 356-1014

Free Admission
Hours:

Monday - Saturday

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Interpreting local history, the museum's exhibits include prehistoric fossils, Native American and Colonial artifacts, a country store and the museum's most notable artifact - the world's oldest, edible cured ham. The 1902 pork product exemplifies the patented Smithfield curing process.

Isle of Wight Museum is proud to be designated a

"Blue Star Museum " offering free admission

to all active duty military personnel and their families

from May 31 - September 6, 2010.

15080 Talcott Terrace, Smithfield

(757) 357-0115

Free Admission
Hours:
Daily from 8:00 a.m. until dusk .

Watch a video on Fort Huger!

Dedication of Historic Fort Huger

Historic Fort Huger, the "Gateway to the Confederate Capital," is located in the northern reaches of Isle of Wight County off route 10 and 8 miles from downtown Smithfield. View the ghost fleet on the James River, take the self-guided walking tour through the new trails and see the cannon mounted along the edges of the fort. Fort Huger is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Contact the Visitor Center to arrange a custom tour.

Stop by the Visitor Center for a map to Fort Huger, located 8 miles from downtown Smithfield.

Directions to Fort Huger

516 Main Street, Smithfield, (757) 365-4789

Free Admission
Hours:

Wednesday - Saturday

12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

An African-American History Museum of Public Education built in 1932, the museum features period desks and books, and offers oral histories of those who attended the school.

130 Main Street, Smithfield

(757) 356-9016

Free Admission

PLEASE NOTE! The Courthouse will be closed during the month of January.

Hours:
February:

Friday and Saturday

10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed Sunday through Thursday

March - December:

Friday and Saturday

10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed Monday

The Old Courthouse of 1750 is located in the historic Town of Smithfield. Originally modeled after the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg, this restored building is owned and operated by the "APVA Preservation Virginia."

14477 Benns Church Blvd.

(757) 357-3367

November through March:
Tuesday - Saturday:

9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Monday

April through October:
Tuesday - Saturday:

9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday

Closed in January

Historic Saint Luke's Church, circa 1632, is located four miles south of Smithfield's Historic District. It is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and is this country's only surviving original brick Gothic church. See the Jacobean interior and original 17th century silver alter fittings, baptismal font and communion table and chairs. It also houses the nation's oldest, intact organ. Visit their gift shop onsite for souvenirs and gifts.

Guided Tours:

Adults: $5.00

Seniors (62 and over): $4.00

Active Duty Military: $4.00

Student (7 – 17): $3.00

Children under 7: Free

Historic St. Luke's Church is proud to be designated a

"Blue Star Museum " offering free admission

to all active duty military personnel and their families

from May 31 - September 6, 2010.

7410 Ft. Boykin Trail

(757) 357-0115

Free Admission
Hours:
Daily from 8:00 a.m.-dusk.

Fort Boykin Historic Park is situated high on the bluffs of the James River about six miles west of Smithfield. Originally named "The Castle," it was later named for Gen. Francis Boykin, a local merchant and one-time sheriff of Smithfield, who fought alongside George Washington. Construction was begun in 1623 to protect the colonists from the Indians and raiding Spaniards. The fort, built in the shape of a seven pointed star, remains essentially intact and constitutes a well-preserved example of military architecture of the Civil War era.

Map to Fort Boykin

17130 Monument Circle, Isle of Wight, Virginia

(757) 365-9771

Free Admission

Hours:
Thursday - Saturday

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Closed January and February

Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving &

Christmas through March 4, 2011

Named after Major Francis Boykin, who served as a lieutenant with Patrick Henry and later camped with George Washington at Valley Forge. He inherited this land in 1780, as well as the house that had stood there since 1762. A smart businessman, he donated land for the Isle of Wight Courthouse of 1800 and even helped pay for the original courthouse, which is still standing and being used today, as well as the new jail. His tavern was conveniently located right next door for meals and refreshments needed by court officers and personnel, curious observers and travelers.

Boykin's Tavern Museum is proud to be designated a

"Blue Star Museum " offering free admission

to all active duty military personnel and their families

from May 31 - September 6, 2010.

Route 258 Courthouse Road

(757) 357-3191

Free Admission
Hours:
Monday - Friday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Isle of Wight Courthouse (circa 1800) - was originally built by Francis Boykin for the county in good faith so that the new courthouse would be conveniently relocated to his property, and right next door to Boykin's Tavern. The original courthouse is still in use today, though the building has expanded greatly with the times.

The 1800 Courthouse is a great source of genealogy as the county records were never disturbed or burned during the Civil War.

Located off Main Street, Hayden's Lane was originally the driveway to Hayden Hall, an early girls' school. The garden department of the Woman's Club of Smithfield and the town created a lovely sitting garden and walkway to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

210 N. Church Street, Smithfield

(757) 357-7338

The Smithfield Little Theatre is housed in a state-of-the-art facility and hosts professional-quality shows throughout the year.

Call or visit the theater's website for a list of their upcoming shows.

319 Main Street, Smithfield
(757) 357-5182 or (800) 365-9339

Hours:

Visitor Center Hours...

Monday - Saturday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day.

The Old Towne Walking Tour of the Historic Downtown District boasts over 50 buildings of exceptional architectural importance, exuding the charm and graciousness of bygone eras. Several of the homes are listed on the National Registry.

Stop by or call the Visitor Center and we will be delighted to give you a map for a self-guided tour, or (with three weeks notice) set up a guided tour. Please call for details.

For an in depth look at Smithfield's Olde Towne Walking Tour, visit HistoricSmithfield.com.

36 Main Street

(757) 357-0006

Visit the 1889 "Mansion on Main," home of Smithfield's Victorian era historian, R. S. (Richard Samuel) Thomas, deemed the "Virginian of Virginians" in the Virginia Historical Society's journal upon his death. This architectural showpiece stands proudly on the corner of the original colonial roads: Main and Church Streets. Locals referred to the home as the "Mansion on Main" while it was being built at the top of Wharf Hill. It was the largest home in the town of Smithfield until the P. D. Gwaltney, Jr. house was built in 1901 and the Berryman Mansion in 1910 (both are located on S. Church St).

But it was the Mansion that changed the face of downtown from Victorian cottage and federal style homes to the "trend-setting" Queen Anne and Art Nouveau styles of architecture. The mansion features museum-quality antiques and Victorian to Edwardian period furnishings.

Weekend Guided Tours

Tours of the mansion are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Visitors are asked to gather at the Mansion House Art & Antiques Shop (located at 120 N. Church Street, directly behind the garden of Mansion on Main).

Scheduled Guided Tours

Tours are also available by appointment. Please provide as much advance notice as possible. There is a $1 per person donation request for groups of 15 or more.

(Times may vary slightly depending on B&B traffic and some seasonal and holiday considerations may affect availability.)

16249 Bowling Green Road

(757) 357-6791

Hours:

Monday-Saturday

7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

This classic country store and smokehouse has been in operation since 1952 and is still run as a family business. Visitors and shoppers can peruse hanging hams, side meat, country cheese, barbeque and peanuts. Feel free to browse, but shopping is encouraged!

13036 Nike Park Road, Carrollton, VA 23314

(757) 357-0115

The park is open daily from dawn until dusk.

Take a video tour of the Nike Park Missile Site.

The former Nike-Ajax missile base is now home to the Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation Department. Many buildings still stand including the barracks, mess hall, administration and recreation building and officer/non-commissioned officer family housing.

Visitors can also see the fueling area and concrete slabs that mark the location of the underground missile magazines.

Visitors are welcome to walk or drive through Site N-75 and recall the experience of soldiers stationed in remote areas.

The site is now a park which features softball and soccer fields, basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, picnic areas, nature and mountain bike trails, skate park, playgrounds, senior center and a recreation hall. In addition, there are fishing opportunities in Jones Creek.

111 South Church Street, Smithfield

(757) 357-2826

Church Tours are available

Monday – Thursday from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, or for appointment call 757 357 2826, or 757 675 5777.

Established in 1832, when the congregation moved from St Luke’s into a small building on the current property deeded to the church by Mallory Todd, founder of the first Smithfield ham business. 

In 1872 two vestibule towers were added and stained glass windows began to replace shuttered, small paned window openings changing the façade. These windows were designed by Tiffany, Franz Mayer (Munich style) and J& R Lamb Studios. The recent book, “Scared Light,” by Nenette Arroyo features three of the stained glass windows in Christ Episcopal Church.

18296 Day's Point Road, Smithfield

(757) 357-2841

This vineyard offers tours by appointment and holds special events throughout the year. The Christmas tree farm is open in November and December. Enjoy a cup of hot cider while picking out your tree or one of our many fresh wreaths.

234 Main Street , Smithfield

The mural, installed in the Smithfield Post Office in 1941, was created by artist William Abbott Cheever, and depicts Captain John Smith and his men trading with the Warraskoyack Tribe in Burwell's Bay on the James River in September of 1607.

Life-size bronze statues depicting such figures as Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost and the “Valentine Couple” are placed throughout town, Miniatures of many of the bronzes are available for purchase at Imagine Art Studio.