Smith's Fort Plantation

Closed
yelp logo

(4)

Photos

217 Smith Fort Ln
Surry, VA 23883
Smith's Fort Plantation is nestled on the south side of the James River, located on the site of Captain John Smith's planned "New Fort", on the land given by Chief Powhatan as a dowry for his daughter Pocahontas upon her marriage to John Rolfe. The 18th century manor house retains much of its original woodwork and provides examples of early American and English period furnishings from the late 16th through the early 18th centuries. Built sometime between 1751 and 1765, this story-and-a-half Flemish bond brick house was home to Jacob Faulcon and his family. The name "Smith's Fort Plantation" comes from the fact that John Smith began construction of a second fort on this site in 1608. Smith's Fort offered a strategic location for a retreat fort away from the original settlement, but construction was abandoned early due to starving conditions at the first fort and conflicts with the local Native American tribe. A few years later after the successful union of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, the bride's father, Wahunsenacawh, was the paramount chief of Tsenacommacah (In 1607, the English colonists were introduced to Wahunsenacawh as Powhatan and understood this latter name to come from Powhatan's hometown near the falls of the James River near present-day Richmond, Virginia.), Gave his new son-in-law a grant of this land as a dowry gift. Although the couple never lived on site, their only son, Thomas Rolfe, later returned to Virginia and opened a tobacco plantation on over 400 acres of the property.

Reviews

yelp logo
5.04 reviews
Photo of J David H.
J David H.
8/31/2025

Smith's Fort is the site of Captain John Smith's proposed "New Fort" and is located directly across the James River from Jamestown on the banks of Gray's Creek. In 1609, Captain John Smith began...

Photo of Fran T.
Fran T.
9/14/2024

Cynthia is a very knowledgeable guide. She knows the history of the area and the house. The period furniture is a wonderful touch on the house. The gift shop actually have black walnut items made...

Photo of Danielle P.
Danielle P.
7/18/2019

Virginia Preservation has done a wonderful job at preserving this plantation. I always try to find history while traveling. The grounds are beautiful and are free to wander around, I actually did...

Photo of Amber D.
Amber D.
5/26/2015

This was a perfect ending to a great day out! Virginia Preservation Society has done an incredible job of bringing this place back to life! It's free to see the grounds where the Fort was and...

Own this business?
See a problem?

You might also like

United StatesVirginiaSurrySmith's Fort Plantation

Partial Data by Infogroup (c) 2025. All rights reserved.

Partial Data by Foursquare.