Free History

As we are in the land of history it’s fitting that there are several historic places to delve into. We begin with the Historic Court Green in Eastville, home of the oldest continuous court records in the United States.

Other sites we'll cover are:

  • Custis Tombs at Arlington Plantation along Old Plantation Creek is the historical home site of John Custis II and his grandson John Custis IV.  The Custis name is important because years later, the Custis women married George Washington and Robert E. Lee. 
  • The Barrier Islands Center in Machipongo, Virginia is rich in history of the families who once called the barrier islands home. They had a unique way of life living off the land and water and depending on each other. No one lives on the barrier islands anymore. The islands are now owned and protected by The Nature Conservancy. 
  • Eyre Hall Gardens owned by the Eyre family since 1668. The property is one of the state's best preserved colonial homes with gardens among the oldest in the United States.  The parterre gardens are open to visitors year round. 

Historical Places on the Eastern Shore of VA

 

 

Other Resources to Explore:


GHOTES: Genealogy and History of the Eastern Shore of VA
Northampton Historic Preservation Society
Eastern Shore Museum Network
Historic Architectural Survey of Northampton County, VA
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Sunday Historical Blog
Passport in Time: Archaeological Digs
A History of the Virginia House of Delegates: Commemorating the First and Oldest Continuous English-Speaking Representative Legislative Assembly in the Western Hemisphere
Encyclopedia Virginia:  Authoritative and user-friendly resource on the history and culture of Virginia. A project of Virginia Humanities in partnership with the Library of Virginia.
Earliest & Most Interesting Eastern Shore Settlers: Blog 
The Countryside Transformed: The Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Creation of a Modern Landscape Essay
The Countryside Transformed Digital Archive of maps, photographs, manuscripts, newspapers, public documents, and other media



 

Historic Court Green Eastville
Photo Credit: Jean E. Flynn
Historic Court Green Eastville, VA

 

Cape Charles Museum
Photo Credit: William Dyas
Cape Charles Museum and Welcome Center displaying the history of the railroad and the Rosenwald School. 

 

Eyre Hall Gardens
Eyre Hall Gardens, one of the oldest in the United States, is open to the public year round.