Last weekend we visited the in laws and took a drive to Gloucester Courthouse in Gloucester, Virginia. One of the things I love about Virginia is the history that permeates the state. We were, after all, the land of the first English settlement at Jamestown. Gloucester is about 35 miles from Jamestown and is directly across the York River from Yorktown, site of Cornwallis’s surrender to Washington.
The town of Gloucester was charted by John Smith’s mapmaker, was featured in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. It was occupied by the Yankees during the Civil War. We just got out and walked around a little bit, but the historic area of the Courthouse was like taking a step back in time.
If the car were not in the above photo, you could almost imagine yourself back in the 1800s.
Here are some of the other buildings
The Jail
The Courthouse
Debtors Prison
And, as often seen in Southern towns, a memorial to the Confederate Dead and a reminder of a very sad time in our country’s history.
There is a plaque outside the Courthouse that tells of the looting and pillaging of the Courthouse and other buildings when the Yankee army swept through the town. The plaque says that the town survived its “brush with war” and in 1889 erected this Confederate monument.
Have you visited any historic towns lately?
Do you have a favorite?
Only in books, in my head, and on blogs.
Thanks for bringing me along.
Wish it could be in person, Judy!
I don’t think we have been to this area yet. We have been to JAmestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown several times, but I don’t think we have been down that far on the other side of the river. We will definitely have to check it our the next time we are up there visiting my sister. Thanks for the tour.
This is definitely not on your typical Virginia history tours, but worth seeing.