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Educational Activities at Capital Trail

2218 Jamestown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185

Latitude: 37.227777

Longitude: -76.782202

Learn about the rich history of Virginia that contributed to the history of the United States while you travel along on the trail. Some of these areas of interest are right off of the Capital Trail.

Educational Activities Amenities At Capital Trail

Jamestown Settlement Living History and Ships

In 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. Today at Jamestown Settlement, the story of the people who founded Jamestown and the Virginia Indians they encountered is told through film, gallery exhibits, and living history.

Season/Hours: Year Round/9 am - 5 pm (6 pm June 15 - August 16)
Fee: Adults: $14 Ages 6-12: $6.50
Location:37° 13.4915, -76° 47.0459

Belle Air Plantation

National Register of Historic Places. Built ca. 1670, this important architectural monument uniquely survives in the South. Huge timbers provide structure and interior decorative panels. Summer beams and the fine original Jacobean stair balustrade are particularly ornamental. Heirloom collections of exceptionally fine 18th century English and American antiques, including antique oriental carpets tastefully complete the decor of the first and second floors. (No rooms are roped off for this intimate tour with the owner and experienced guides.)

Season/Hours: By appointment only. Open to public during Garden week./
Fee: Call: (804) 829-2431
Location:37° 20.5644, -77° 03.9091

Berkeley Plantation

National Historic Landmark, Civil War Trails site, Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail site, and Virginia Time Travelers site. Berkeley, one of Virginia's most historic plantations, is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V., signer of the Declaration of Independence and William Henry Harrison, ninth U.S. president. The first official Thanksgiving was held here(1619). "Taps" was composed here (1862) at the Civil War Headquarters of General McClellan. Costumed guides conduct tours of the 1726 Georgian mansion daily. Outstanding gardens overlook the James River.

Season/Hours: Open daily/10:30 - 3:30 off season hours
Fee: Adults: $11 ; Ages 6-12: $6 ; Students Ages 13-16: $7.50
Location:37° 19.071, -77° 10.819

Charles City County Visitor Center and Courthouse

National Register of Historic Places and Civil War Trails Site. The Visitor Center is located in the county's historic 1901 Clerk's Office adjacent to the 3rd oldest courthouse in the country. Visitor Center exhibits invite guests to experience "the story of America in one small county" and acquaint visitors with things to see and do. Four outdoor interpretive exhibits provide visitors with information about Charles City's historic courthouse and engagements at the courthouse during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/9 am - 5 pm
Fee: Call: (804) 652-4701
Location:37° 20.507, -77° 04.339

Colonial Capital

The Colonial Capital is located within Colonial Williamsburg. Experience life as it was in our nation's yesterdays. Explore the homes and buildings where men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry inspired the fight for independence.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/9 am - 5 pm
Fee: None for Visitor Center
Location:37° 16.2971, -76° 41.6079

Edgewood Plantation

National Register of Historic Places. Edgewood, built ca. 1849 in the Gothic Revival Style, surprises visitors with its northern exterior and southern interior, including a double spiral staircase and 10 fireplaces. Edgewood was used to hold services for Westover Church during the Civil War.

Season/Hours: Open daily/10:30 am - 4:30pm
Fee: Call: (804) 829-2962
Location:37° 19.820, -77° 11.182

Kittiewan Plantation and Visitor Center

National Register of Historic Places. Land given to Governor George Yeardly in 1617. Home of Dr. William Rickman appointed by Continental Congress, May 16, 1776, in charges of hospitals in Virginia during the Revolutionary War. Occupied by Union forces during the Civil War. Museum of Americana. Headquarters of the Archeology Society of Virginia.

Season/Hours: --/Hours vary
Fee: $7 per person
Location:37° 18.353, -77° 02.903

North Bend Plantation

National Register of Historic Places. Civil War Trails site. Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail site. North Bend Plantation, ca 1801, was built by John Minge for his wife Sarah Harrison, sister of William Henry Harrison, 9th U.S. president. General Sheridan and his union troops occupied the area in 1864. Heirlooms at North Bend trace the family history to previous owners of Westover, Evelynton, and Berkeley Plantations.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/9 am - 5 pm
Fee: Call: (804) 829-5176
Location:37° 18.745, -77° 03.331

Richmond Battlefield National Park - Fort Harrison

The national battlefield park contains sites relating to three separate events of the Civil War: The Seven Days Campaign of 1862, The Overland Campaign of 1864, and the late-war fighting north of the James River. Fort Harrison stood in 1854 as the most powerful fort in the extensive outer defenses of Richmond. Built on high, open ground, the fort and its surrounding entrenchments were built to protect the approaches to Richmond from the South.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/9 am to 5 pm
Fee: Free
Location:37° 25.700, -77° 22.391,

Sherwood Forest Plantation

National Historic Landmark. Civil War Trails site. Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail site. Sherwood Forest Plantation was the home of the 10th U.S. President John Tyler from 1842 until his death in 1862, and has been continuously occupied by his descendants since that time. Original dependencies surround the home, along with a magnificent collection of trees and landscaped grounds. Enjoy a virtual tour of the home the website: www.sherwoodforest.org.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/Plantation grounds
Fee: self-guided grounds tour: $10.00; 15 and under free; guided house tour: $35.00 per person
Location:37° 20.097, -77° 01.120

Westover Plantation and Gardens

National Historic Landmark. Civil War Trails site. Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail site. Westover is one of the most elegant colonial plantations. It was built about 1730 by William Byrd II, found of Richmond and Petersburg, and is widely known for its superb proportions and the finest 18th century iron gates in this country. Self-guide grounds tour includes a walled garden, original dependencies and original site of Charles City Courthouse and Westover Parish Church and graveyard.

Season/Hours: Open Daily/9 am to 6 pm
Fee: Call: (804) 829-2882
Location:37° 18.664, -77° 09.097

Other Activities At Capital Trail: Hiking and Biking

Click here to return to the destination overview for Capital Trail, or check out other great Virginia outdoor destinations that offer access to Educational Activities.

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Music by the River Brian Morris, Media Intern A schedule of the 2012 Concert Series at Belle Isle State Park.	Become a Junior Ranger at Holliday Lake State Park Sarah Lankford, Program Support Tech Holliday Lake State Park will offer a Junior Ranger educational program during the month June.

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Educational Activities at Capital Trail

2218 Jamestown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185

Latitude: 37.227777

Longitude: -76.782202

Jamestown Settlement Living History and Ships

Belle Air Plantation

Berkeley Plantation

Charles City County Visitor Center and Courthouse

Colonial Capital

Edgewood Plantation

Kittiewan Plantation and Visitor Center

North Bend Plantation

Richmond Battlefield National Park - Fort Harrison

Sherwood Forest Plantation

Westover Plantation and Gardens

Related Articles

Forget the Birds and the Bees; Think about the Birds and the Cats

Donations Support Education Programs at Sailor's Creek

Music by the River

Become a Junior Ranger at Holliday Lake State Park

What's Happening

Explore Virginia's Outdoors

Recent Photos

Recent Comments

Follow Us On:

Educational Activities at Capital Trail

2218 Jamestown RoadWilliamsburg, VA 23185

Latitude: 37.227777

Longitude: -76.782202

Jamestown Settlement Living History and Ships

Belle Air Plantation

Berkeley Plantation

Charles City County Visitor Center and Courthouse

Colonial Capital

Edgewood Plantation

Kittiewan Plantation and Visitor Center

North Bend Plantation

Richmond Battlefield National Park - Fort Harrison

Sherwood Forest Plantation

Westover Plantation and Gardens

Related Articles

Forget the Birds and the Bees; Think about the Birds and the Cats

Donations Support Education Programs at Sailor's Creek

Music by the River

Become a Junior Ranger at Holliday Lake State Park

What's Happening

Explore Virginia's Outdoors

Recent Photos

Recent Comments

2218 Jamestown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185