Chippokes State Park
| Chippokes Plantation State Park | |
|---|---|
_(2).jpg) House at Chippokes Plantation | |
  Location of Chippokes Plantation State Park in Virginia | |
| Location | Surry County, Virginia |
| Nearest city | Newport News |
| Coordinates | 37°8′12″N 76°43′39″W / 37.13667°N 76.72750°W |
| Area | 1,683 acres (681.1 ha) |
| Administered by | Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |
Chippokes Plantation | |
| Area | 1,403 acres (567.8 ha) |
| Built | 1829 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000283[1] |
| VLR No. | 090-0070 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 01, 1969 |
| Designated VLR | November 5, 1968, July 15, 1986[2] |
Chippokes Plantation State Park is located at 695 Chippokes Park Road, Surry, Virginia. It is in a rural, agricultural area off the James River and Route 10 in Surry County, and is protected under the state park system.
History
Chippokes Plantation was established in 1617 by Captain William Powell of the Jamestown Settlement in the Virginia Colony. In 1967, the 1,700-acre (6.9 km2) plantation was donated to the Commonwealth by Mrs. Victor Stewart for use as a state park.
One of the oldest working farms in the nation, Chippokes has kept its boundaries since the 17th century. The structures and artifacts on the property reflect plantation life from the early 17th century to the present. The antebellum Chippokes Mansion and the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum both offer scenic tours of the estate, cultivated formal gardens and woodlands.
Noted for its continuous agricultural production and modern recreational facilities, amenities include fishing, trails, camping and cabin rentals. The annual community event, the Steam and Gas Festival, is usually the weekend after Memorial Day and offers a wide variety of arts, crafts and music along with tractor and saw milling demonstrations.
The Pork Peanut & Pine Festival is held annually the third full weekend in July and celebrates the regions three most celebrated resources - pork, pine and peanuts. The festival includes arts & crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.[3]
Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum
Opened in June 1990, the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum, one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country, is an agriculture museum with many exhibits and displays of farm tools and tools used by craftsmen such as the blacksmith, wheelwright, cooper and cobbler. Others exhibits focus on farm animals, processing, preserving, small tools and housewares and farm techniques. There is also a working sawmill. The seven building complex is open for self-guided tours. The museum is operated by the Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ "Pork, Peanut & Pine Festival Home Page".
External links
- Chippokes Plantation State Park at Virginia.gov
- Chippokes Plantation State Park at Virginia.org
- Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum
- Museums USA - Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum
- Museums in Surry County, Virginia
- State parks of Virginia
- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- Agriculture museums in the United States
- Historic house museums in Virginia
- Forestry museums in the United States
- Plantations in Virginia
- Farm museums in Virginia
- Protected areas established in 1967
- Parks in Surry County, Virginia
- Houses in Surry County, Virginia
- 1967 establishments in Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places in Surry County, Virginia
- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia