Visit Hampton Roads Virginia: Hampton Roads / History & Heritage

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Isle of Wight Courthouse
130 Main Street
Smithfield, VA 23430
Phone: (757) 579-9016
Opens: 10:00:00 AM
Closes: 4:00:00 PM
Children Welcome
Pets Welcome

Located in the historic Town of Smithfield is the Old Courthouse. This building was built in 1750 and used as a courthouse until 1800 when the court was moved to Isle of Wight County Courthouse. After that time, it was converted to a private three-story dwelling. The private dwelling was constructed in such a way that the original structure of the courthouse was preserved almost completely intact. In 1959 the Isle of Wight branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) began restoration of the building to its original form. It is now open to the public with no charge for admittance. The adjoining clerk's office was built in 1799 and has been used as an office or a shop since 1800.

Isle of Wight Courthouse of 1800
Courthouse Road
Route 258
Isle of Wight, VA 23397
Phone: (757) 357-3191

The original Clerk's office is now part of the Isle of Wight Courthouse complex of offices and courts. Geneological records remain intact.

Isle of Wight Museum
103 Main Street
Smithfield, VA 23430
Phone1: (757) 356-1223
Phone2: (800) 365-9339 Smithfield & Isle of Wight CVB
Email: jwilliams@isleofwightus.net
Opens: 10:00:00 AM
Closes: 4:00:00 PM
Children Welcome

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.

J. J. Moore Visitor, Archives & Family Life Center
2216 Long Ridge Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Phone: (757) 421-3839 Information
Opens: 10:00:00 AM
Closes: 5:00:00 PM
Children Welcome

This is the only visitor center in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an Afro-Union and Afro-Virginian repository theme. Hours of operation are Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm. The archives room has a historical collection that serves as a repository of documents, pictures, and records of over 140 years of Cuffeytown, Gabriel Chapel Church; and Afro-Union, Afro-Virginian, and Afro-Norfolk County Military, Political, and Educational histories. The archives are open by appointment only. The Cuffeytown Historic Cemetary is located near by.

James A. Fields House
617 27th Street
Newport News, VA 23607
Phone: (757) 245-1991
Fax: (757) 245-1991
Email: jafields@hotmail.com
Admission Fee
Children Welcome

The James A. Fields House is historically significant for its long association with the development of the social and civic life of the African-American community in Newport News. The house was used by Mr. Fields as his law office and primary residence from 1897 to 1903. In 1908, four doctors pooled their savings and asked the Fields family for use of the top floor to start a hospital. Other than the city jail's infirmary, this institution represented the only outlet for hospitalization for blacks, and provided two years of generous service to the black community. The Fields House was just one of fifteen properties owned by Mr. Fields in Newport News. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Normally open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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