Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Artery of Commerce

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, August 3, 2010

1. Artery of Commerce Marker

Inscription. Sailing ships and the rivers they travelled were vital to the tidewater plantations of Virginia and Maryland. They were the colonial counterpart to our vehicles, highways, and railroads.

In front of you is Popes Creek; beyond is the Potomac River. Every Potomac River plantation was an international port of call. A steady procession of ships graced the river, collecting hogsheads of tobacco for shipment to England and unloading both the necessities and niceties of colonial life.

The river not only linked the new world to the old, but linked the Potomac River plantations to one another. Regular interaction gave the Potomac River plantation families a strong collective identity distinct from that of the rest of tidewater Virginia.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 38° 11.196′ N, 76° 54.938′ W. Marker is in Colonial Beach, Virginia, in Westmoreland County. It can be reached from Popes Creek Road. The marker is at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, one of our National Parks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1732 Popes Creek Road, Colonial Beach VA 22443, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

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

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dairy (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Memorial Area (about 500 feet away); Popes Creek Plantation (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Historic Area (approx. ¼ mile away); Explore a trail network (approx. ¼ mile away); War in the Chesapeake (approx. ¼ mile away); “O! say can you see…” (approx. ¼ mile away); Free to Fight (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colonial Beach.

Other markers no longer nearby. Archeology at Popes Creek (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); George Washington’s Birthplace (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); George Washington Birthplace Site (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . George Washington Birthplace National Monument. Website of the National Park Service. (Submitted on August 8, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina.)

Additional keywords. Popes Creek Plantation, Augustine Washington, George Washington

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 19, 2023

2. Artery of Commerce Marker

Artery of Commerce Marker Overlooking Popes Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, August 3, 2010

3. Artery of Commerce Marker Overlooking Popes Creek

Artery of Commerce Marker and Popes Creek image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, August 3, 2010

4. Artery of Commerce Marker and Popes Creek

The View From The Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, August 3, 2010

5. The View From The Marker

Looking back toward the replica colonial house

George Washington Birthplace National Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, August 3, 2010

6. George Washington Birthplace National Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 809 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 8, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. 2. submitted on April 28, 2023, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 8, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.