Shirley Plantation is located in Charles City, Virginia, which is between Richmond and Williamsburg. This plantation has attributes that make it unique even among the other plantations in Virginia. Established in 1613, Shirley Plantation, located in Charles City, is the oldest plantation in Virginia. The home and plantation has been operated by and lived in by 11 generations of the same family. Because it is still a working plantation, Shirley is also the oldest family run business in the country.
Originally, the plantation included 4,000 acres set on the banks of the James River. Today, the plantation is 800 acres. The mansion, a two and a half story Georgian, was completed in 1738. It is open for tours and descendants of Edward Hill, who purchased the land in 1638, continue to live in the home and run the family business.
Because the home has remained in the hands of one family for 11 generations, visitors have the unique opportunity to be able to see a colonial home that is complete with many pieces of the original furniture and other items, such as silver and family portraits, that have been in the home since it was built. There are also 8 original outbuildings including a two story kitchen, stable, barns, a laundry building and smoke house.
Shirley Plantation is a National Historic Landmark. During the Revolutionary War, the plantation was a supply center for the Continental Army. It was used as a field hospital for the Union Army during the Civil War. It was in the Shirley Plantation mansion that Anne Hill Carter, mother of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was born.
Because the upper floors of the home serve as a residence, only the first floor is included on the guided tour of the main house. Some visitors found this to be a disappointment. Additionally, some visitors were not happy with the amount of knowledge displayed by their guide, while others found their guide to be very helpful and able to answer any questions that they had. One visitor from North Carolina said, "We had a good guide and the family history is just fascinating. Set in an area that it seems time has passed by. You can easily imagine yourself arriving by horse drawn carriage or boat. The details of family owned furniture, artwork and daily items is fascinating.''
In addition to the normal tours of the house, outbuildings and grounds, which are available each day, Shirley Plantation also hosts several special events each year. The Colonial Polo Cup is held here and there are seasonal and holiday themed events as well.
It is a good idea to check for current events, hours and pricing information when planning a visit.
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