Many people might be familiar with Jamestown Settlement, the first permanent English settlement in the New World. But few might be familiar with the second permanent English settlement, Henricus. Although Henricus only lasted a short time, it still provided many historical firsts to what would become the United States. I also went to see Weston Manor and the Hopewell Riverwalk in nearby Hopewell. Keep reading to learn about other places to visit in the greater area to maximize your time.
Henricus Historical Park
Sir Thomas Dale founded Henricus in 1611 alongside 300 settlers for the purpose of finding a less swampy settlement. The settlement lasted a short time due primarily to tobacco, which caused the population to spread out. What remained of Henricus burned down during the second Anglo-Powhatan War in 1622.
Several important things happened during Henricus’ brief time. The minister of the church Alexander Whitaker educated Pocahontas to read & write in English, as well as oversaw her religious education. The first hospital and college in British North America were founded in Henricus, but the college was never completed.
Long after the settlers abandoned Henricus, the site still played an important role in American history. During the Civil War, Union troops under General Benjamin Butler dug a canal on the land to contain Confederate Land Batteries. The channel was completed after the war, turning part of the land into an island. Henricus Historical Park now serves as an open-air history museum, with costumed interpreters and demonstrations.
Right next door to Henricus Historical Park is the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. Dutch Gap consists of one long trail going around a lagoon. I recommend the Conservation Area only if you want to experience the great outdoors, otherwise there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about the place.
Before you go: Henricus Historical Park is only opened from Thursday through Sunday from 10-4. Admission is Free.
Hopewell, Virginia
A 23-minute drive from Henricus Historical Park is Hopewell, a small city on the James River. Hopewell does not have the best reputation, and at first glance there’s nothing spectacular about the city. But look a little deeper and you’ll find some hidden gems.
Located in Hopewell City Park is the Riverwalk, which reminded me of the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk but with city views. It’s a lovely place to stroll, but keep in mind there’s barely any shade on the Riverwalk. Also in Hopewell is the Old City Point Waterfront Park, but I was unable to make it there.
Further away from the downtown is Weston Manor, an old plantation home. The house was originally built by William Gilliam, who we know little about because of multiple courthouse fires. During the Civil War, a different family rented the property, and a daughter of the family later published her Civil War diary. The post-Civil War owner originated from Ireland; he intended on entering the priesthood, but on the ship heading to America he saw a beautiful woman. One interesting thing about the house is that it has the second oldest dumbwaiter in America, which still survives. My tour guide gave the offer to touch the replica mattress in order to feel what they were like back in the day. Weston Manor opened every day except Monday; on Sunday the house is only open in the afternoon.
For lunch I ate at the City Point Ice Cream and Burgers. It serves basic hamburgers, but the main attraction are the crazy shakes. Located on the small downtown street.
Conclusion
Overall, I enjoyed my time visiting the under-the-radar Henricus Historical Park and Hopewell Virginia. Visiting both the Historical Park and the attractions of Hopewell make for a fun day out. For further adventures, you could visit nearby Chester/Chesterfield, Petersburg or Richmond, all around a 30-minute drive from Hopewell. Or you could head the opposite direction to Charles City County to visit the historic plantations of Shirley, Berkeley, and Sherwood Forest. And if you wanted to see more colonial history, Colonial Williamsburg and the Jamestown Settlement are both about 75-minutes away.
Here is the companion YouTube video about Henricus Historical Park and the things to do in Hopewell. Please let me know if you enjoyed the video or not.