Powhatan in Powhatan County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Courthouse Tavern
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Atkinson's Hotel
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The Village
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021
1. The Courthouse Tavern side of the marker
The Courthouse Tavern
Steeped in Powhatan history this large building evolved from the story and a half frame portion on the right which dates to the late 18th century. The impressive brick portion with the double galleries was completed in 1822. Initially owner Richard Bass named it the Grove Tavern after a grove of trees just opposite of the public Square. Stage coach stop, Post Office, dining hall, school, apartments, over the generations this building has housed them all.
The Tavern is a Virginia Historic Landmark, being part of the Powhatan Courthouse Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic places.
Atkinson's Hotel: In the years after the Civil War, descendants of the builder Richard Bass changed the name of this Tavern to Atkinson's Hotel. The word Tavern was fading from use and the term Hotel seemed more modern. While always welcoming travelers arriving on stagecoach, horseback and railroad, summer boarding away from the heat of the city was a specialty of The Atkinson.
The Village: Laid out in 1777 and today called simply Powhatan Courthouse, the Village was originally named Scottville after Gen. Charles Scott a Revolutionary War officer born in the area. Confusion on maps and in the mails with Scottsville in Albemarle County likely led
this page online
Erected by John F. Rothert.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.
Location. 37° 32.532′ N, 77° 55.099′ W. Marker is in Powhatan, Virginia, in Powhatan County. It is on Courthouse Tavern Lane (Virginia Route 300) just east of Old Buckingham Road ( Route 13), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3820 Courthouse Tavern Ln, Powhatan VA 23139, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Powhatan Troop (within shouting distance of this marker); The Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Norton Grape (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial to Powhatan Servicemen (within shouting distance of this marker); Garden Founding / Agriculture in Powhatan (within shouting distance of this marker); Cotton (within shouting distance of this marker); Garden Historical Features / Garden Native Plants
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021
2. Atkinson's Hotel / The Village side of the marker
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021
3. The Courthouse Tavern / Atkinson's Hotel / The Village Marker
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 2, 2026
4. "Grove Tavern"
This is the initial portion of the tavern, built by Richard Bass late in the 1700s.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 990 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on March 17, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.
