Looking at Colonial Architecture: Shirley and Berkeley Plantations (VA)

  Shirley Plantation is about 10 miles outside of Richmond. We visited it because I am studying colonial history. Shirley was built along the James River in 1613. A man bought the plantation and named it after his wife, Shirley. He died before they moved in, so Shirley sold the plantation to another family. After three generations they could no longer keep the house in the family. They sold the plantation to the Hill Carter family. They still own the plantation today.

   There are lots of architectural designs in the interior that are beautiful. For example, the "Flying" staircase. It has no visible means of holding it up. It is a rare design in buildings. Sorry we don't have any pictures of it.

This is a dovecoat. They would use the doves to send messages, and as an excellent source of juicy dove meat and eggs. This is a picture (right) of me and my mom standing in front of Shirley's 350 year old oak tree.

We also went to Berkeley plantation where there is lots of history!  Our 9th President, William Henry Harrison lived at Berkeley, and Benjamin Harrison, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was born here as well. Berkeley was established in 1619 and was the site of the first thanksgiving. During construction hostile Indians attacked and killed everyone. Soon a new family bought Berkeley and finished construction of the plantation.

This was also the site where the song Taps was composed, and Lincoln came to visit General McClellan and the 140,000 Union troops that were stationed there. I could not imagine looking out the window and seeing so many tents on Berkeley's fields.  I would be scared that the Confederates would come and kill everyone on the plantation.  

 There was a good natural harbor at Berkeley and allowed them to have a good shipbuilding industry. They were master ship builders of the time. There was so much timber at Berkeley, they could make ships for years.

After the Civil War, the plantation fell into disrepair. No one used it or fixed it up until the early 1900's when a new family bought it. They soon opened it up for tourism to make some money to keep the plantation in the family. They still own it today.

I really enjoyed visiting these two plantations.  It gave me a good feel for colonial life.  During this time my family and I also watched the PBS show Colonial House,which was about modern day people setting up a colony in New England.  Their houses were one-roomed, no glass windows, and were simply furnished - very different from the plantations of the rich Virginians.  If I had to chose a colonial home, I think I would pick a plantation house!