
Civil War Tours
MISSION: TO
COLLECT, PRESERVE, INTERPRET AND PROMOTE THE
COUNTY’S PAST FOR THE EDUCATION
AND ENJOYMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS
Historic Chesterfield County, Virginia
PowerPoint Presentations
Programs are presented by staff of Chesterfield County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Call 751-4946 or email Bryan Truzzie to arrange a program. Cost: FREE
Archaeology: Learning
from the Past This presentation focuses on
the archaeological process,
establishing an excavation site, a look at
various branches of archaeology and a
discussion of historical
findings from recent excavations.
Chesterfield County: A
Historical Perspective This presentation
details the rich history of Chesterfield
spanning
over 250 years. It also describes the
county’s historic and recreational sites and
is ideal for those who are new to
the region and wish to learn more.
Chesterfield County’s Historic Courthouse
Green Learn
about the Colonial history of Chesterfield’s
old
Courthouse Green and hear the stories
surrounding its monuments and historic
structures.
Civil War History You
can choose from the Bermuda Hundred Campaign
in Chesterfield County, Lee’s Retreat
or the History of Point of Rocks and the
Union Hospital.
Ghosts of Chesterfield County Learn about some of the most haunting historic sites and homes in the county.
Heirloom Herbs: Their
History and Folklore Explore the historical
uses and folklore of herbs as air freshener,
insect repellent, medicinal and culinary
uses.
Historic Chesterfield County Courthouse Learn
about the history surrounding Chesterfield
County’s original
1750 courthouse, including several
well-known trials and other historic events
that took place on its grounds.
Historic Coal Mines of Chesterfield County
Chesterfield is
home to the first commercial coal mines in
the New
World. From 1703 to the early 1900’s, the
mines produced abundant supplies of coal.
Find out how this industry
shaped the history of the county.
Historic Mills of Chesterfield County This
presentation will provide an insightful
glimpse into the history of
mill power that was prevalent during the 18
th and 19 th centuries.
Historic Trees of Chesterfield County Listen
to the stories surrounding Chesterfield’s
most notable trees. Learn
about the Nunnally oak tree that has been
standing for nearly 2 centuries at the old
courthouse, the “cucumber”
the magnolia tree, planted in 1833 at Violet
Bank, and other unusual and historic local
trees.
Victory Gardens of World War II: A
Nation Comes Together Take a look back at
Victory Gardens that
Americans planted in back yards, vacant
lots, parks, schools, rooftops and window
boxes, to boost morale during
wartime and provide food for the family
during the days of rationing.
What’s in a Name? The
Origins of Plant Names Hear the stories
behind the origins of common plant names and
learn about the history of scientific names,
which help us to make sense out of the
sometimes confusing, but
always interesting, world of plant names!
History of Victorian Bon Air This presentation covers the history of the resort town during the 19 th century.
Courthouse Centennial This presentation focuses on the centennial history of the 1917 Courthouse.
Eppington Plantation This
program focuses on the history of Eppington,
architecture, connection to Thomas
Jefferson and the 250 th Anniversary
Iron
Furnace at Falling Creek This
program focuses on the history of the first
iron furnace established in the
New World in 1619.
History of Bermuda Hundred This
program examines the history of the first
incorporated town in English North
America.
History of Pleasant View School This
program addresses the history of one of the
last African American school
houses in Chesterfield County.
Huguenots and Religious Freedom This
program examines the history of the French
Huguenots and the fight for
religious liberty in the colonies.
Programs are presented by staff of
Chesterfield County’s Department of Parks
and Recreation. Call Bryan Truzzie
at 751-4946 or truzzieb@chesterfield.gov to
arrange a program. Cost: FREE
Point
of Rocks is a historic site on the
Appomattox River is designated "Pont of
Rocks Park". Abraham Lincoln walked with
Union Generals discussing ways to win a
war. Clara Barton served as the head nurse
to many wounded and sick Union soldiers in
the largest hospital in the world. The house
was used for the surgeons quarters and is
still standing and currently, the house is
being stabilized. Evidence of Indians who
lived on the river is just below the house.
It is one of Chesterfield's most historic
sites and not yet open to the public.
The
"Magnolia Grange House Museum"
is an elegant Federal period home built in
1822, named for the circle of magnolia trees
that once graced its front lawns. Listed on
the National Register of Historic Places,
Magnolia Grange’s distinctive architectural
features include elaborate ceiling motifs, a
half-turn open carved stairway and hand-painted
scenic wallpaper produced by Zuber, a French
manufacturer.
Historic
1817 Castlewood was built ca.
1817-1819 by Parke Poindexter. Poindexter
was the Clerk of the Court at Chesterfield
County from 1812 until 1847, almost 35
years. The original landowner was Henry
Winfree, who received the property as a land
grant in 1754. County Clerk Mr. Poindexter
purchased the 180-acre tract in 1816 and
began his efforts to construct a new home.
One of the three or four finest Federal
period houses in the county, Castlewood
features a formal five-part plan differing
from any other recorded Virginia dwelling.
"C.
1860 Summerseat" - According
to tradition, this 19th century
house was used by a county magistrate as the
“seat” of his court during summer months due
to the muddy and rutted roads which made
travel to the courthouse in the center of
the county almost impossible. The
lower brick portion of the house was the
“jail” or “detention center, complete with
bars that held prisoners or those persons
awaiting trial. It is
not a large building at 18 by 16 feet. The
house is part of Virginia State University.
Genealogy Research
Summer Camps for Children