On Richmond Road (U.S. 360) just west of Hampton Hall Road (Virginia Route 202), on the right when traveling east.
Two miles northeast, at Lodge, stood the Chambers Stamp Factory, owned by the same family for four generations. Founded in Washington, D.C., about 1830 by Benjamin Chambers, Sr., an engraver and inventor of a breech-loading cannon, the company . . . — — Map (db m293482) HM
On Richmond Road (Route 360) at Owl Town Road (County Route 711), on the right when traveling east on Richmond Road.
The Rev. Paymus (Pyramus) Nutt, born into slavery, helped organize four African American churches in Northumberland County after the Civil War. In 1866 he co-founded First Baptist. Shiloh Baptist, established in 1867, called him to be its first . . . — — Map (db m99406) HM
On Hampton Hall Road (Virginia Route 202) at Locust Lane ( Route 675), on the right when traveling west on Hampton Hall Road.
The War of 1812. Impressment of Americans into British service and the violation of American ships were among the causes of America’s War of 1812 with the British, which lasted until 1815. Beginning in 1813, Virginians suffered from a British . . . — — Map (db m76405) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) 0.7 miles east of Walnut Point Road, on the right when traveling east.
The Virginia General Assembly incorporated the Northumberland Academy in 1818. The school provided classical education for male students to prepare them for college or positions of leadership in the community. Because universal state funded . . . — — Map (db m22949) HM
On Nurthumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Crabbetown Road (County Route 674), on the left when traveling east on Nurthumberland Highway.
Five miles northeast is the site of Northumberland House, built by the third Peter Presley, who was murdered in 1750. He was the last male descendant of the first William Presley, who settled there and who was a Burgess as early as 1647. Mantua, . . . — — Map (db m22715) HM
On Richmond Road (U.S. 360) at Normans Corner Road ( Route 617), on the left when traveling east on Richmond Road.
Richmond County. Area 204 Square Miles. Formed in 1692 from Old Rappahannock County, and named for the town of Richmond, Surrey, England. Sabine Hall and Mount Airy, noted old homes, are in this county.
Northumberland . . . — — Map (db m76410) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) 0.2 miles east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
"Waterman" is a very old Word used to describe men who ferried passengers across English rivers like the Thames in London. We can only guess why it became associated with the Chesapeake Bay area. Perhaps early Northumberland settlers also ferried . . . — — Map (db m299458) HM
On Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 201) just west of Knights Run Road ( Route 642), on the left when traveling west.
First Baptist Church, the earliest African American Baptist congregation in Northumberland County, originated in 1866 when black members of Coan Baptist Church began holding worship services at the home of Alexander Day. They later worshiped at . . . — — Map (db m176493) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Judicial Place, on the right when traveling east on Northumberland Highway.
On 5 Sept. 1791, Robert Carter III (1728-1804), one of the wealthiest men in the United States, filed a deed of manumission at the Northumberland County Courthouse. This document eventually freed more than 500 enslaved African Americans owned by . . . — — Map (db m99410) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
The Rosenwald Schools
Following the Civil War, Jim Crow laws were passed to establish "separate but equal" schools for Black and White children. The few Black schools that were created proved woefully inadequate.
Julius Rosenwald and . . . — — Map (db m299464) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Hooray for Steamboats!
In the late 1800's, Northumberland County had few roads and fewer bridges. Whatever families wanted or needed was delivered by steamboats. Bats and balls for the baseball teams. Books and maps for the schools. . . . — — Map (db m299463) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just west of Rowes Landing Road (County Route 601), on the left when traveling east.
John Heath was born on 8 May 1758 in Northumberland County. He attended William & Mary College and on 5 Dec. 1776, he and four of his classmates founded Phi Beta Kappa, a prestigious undergraduate honors organization. He became its first president. . . . — — Map (db m22550) HM
On Northumblerand Highway (U.S. 360) at Monument Place, on the right when traveling south on Northumblerand Highway.
A tribute to those from Northumberland County who lost their lives in
Korean War
Ellis L. Deihl •
Levin F. Fisher •
Stewart C. Lewis, Jr. •
John M. Wildy •
Thomas B. Wootteon
Vietnam War
Hovey R. Curry •
William L. . . . — — Map (db m176496) WM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
During the Civil War, it was too dangerous to travel to Baltimore to shop. If a woman wanted new straw hats for herself and her daughters, she had to get creative. The most practical substitute for straw was the corn-husk. If you have ever . . . — — Map (db m299460) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) south of Monument Place, on the right when traveling south.
Originally known as Chickacoan, an Indigenous district located in Virginia's Northern Neck, this area was renamed Northumberland in 1648 by the Virginia General Assembly. — — Map (db m299420) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Monument Place, on the right when traveling east on Northumberland Highway.
In memory of the soldiers of Northumberland who gave their lives for the cause of their native state and the South. This monument is erected by the Ladies Memorial Association of Northumberland County
Capt. R. H. Hall. •
Lieut. T. H. Cox. . . . — — Map (db m76413) WM
On Back Streets (Virginia Route 1001) north of Monument Place, on the left when traveling north.
A contributing building to the designation of Heathsville as a historic district by the Commonwealth of Virginia and its placement on the National Register of Historic Places 1992 — — Map (db m176497) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Monument Place, on the right when traveling east.
This site first patented in 1663 was the site of the first courthouse built c.1681. The present courthouse built in 1851 is the third on this site. — — Map (db m76414) HM WM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just west of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Originally known as Hughlett’s Tavern, this building, located behind the courthouse, served visitors to court for more than 150 years. John Hughlett erected the original portion of the tavern before 1795. Griffin H. Foushee, who purchased it in . . . — — Map (db m22709) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just west of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the left when traveling east.
Formed in 1653 as Chickacone Parish and renamed Fairfield in 1664. The upper part was known locally as Bowtracy Parish. When St. Stephen’s Parish was formed in 1698, Fairfield became its lower part and Bowtracy its upper part. — — Map (db m22706) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) 0.2 miles east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Our library owes its existence to three intrepid members of the Northumberland Junior Women's Club. In 1969, Chris Cogsdale, Kay Shirley and Patsy Basye decided our county needed a library. The trio sought out kindred spirits who donated books, . . . — — Map (db m299456) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Reedville was founded in 1874 by a transplant from New England, Elijah W. Reed. Captain Reed brought to local watermen a method of extracting oil from menhaden. Processed by the millions, the oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting—as whale . . . — — Map (db m299471) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Hannah got up sleepy-eyed every day at dawn to draw a bucket of water from the well. But as she left the house on the morning of November 13, 1833, she got the shock of her life. Hannah, sixteen-years-old and Black, ran screaming to her mistress: . . . — — Map (db m299461) HM
Near Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) east of Courthouse Road ( Route 201), on the right when traveling east.
Benjamin Franklin Lewis designed and patented the crab pot, an invention that revolutionized the harvesting of blue crabs. He first started experimenting on the Yeocomico River, at his home in Harry Hogan in Northumberland County.
Of both . . . — — Map (db m299459) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) 0.1 miles south of Spring Road ( Route 634), on the right when traveling south.
★ ★ ★ We, the people of Northumberland County, as a lasting expression of our gratitude and affection have dedicated this memorial as a testimonial to the young men of this county who in a spirit of unselfish patriotism answered . . . — — Map (db m176498) WM
On Monument Place at Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360), on the right when traveling west on Monument Place.
A tribute to those from Northumberland County who lost their lives in World War II
Hubert Banks •
S. Frederick Biddlecomb •
C. Campbell Brann •
Arthur Bryant •
J. Preston Bryant •
E. Hugh Cockrell •
Albert J. Crabbe •
Cecil . . . — — Map (db m176494) WM
On Jessie Dupont Memorial Highway (Virginia Route 200) at Morattico Church Road (County Route 679), on the left when traveling north on Jessie Dupont Memorial Highway.
On the hill is Morattico Church, organized in 1778, the mother Baptist church of the Northern Neck. The present building was erected in 1856. Lewis Lunsford, first pastor, is buried here. — — Map (db m24477) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Lewisetta Road (County Route 624), on the left when traveling east on Northumberland Highway.
Settled by Englishmen about 1640, Cherry Point
was later a childhood home of Mary Ball, the
mother of George Washington. In August 1814
American militia repulsed a British force there.
From the early 1800s to the 1940s, steamboats
plied the . . . — — Map (db m22531) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360), on the left when traveling east.
In 1868, Caroline Putnam (1826–1917) established a school for the children of former slaves here. In 1869, her lifelong friend, Sallie Holley (1818–1893) of N.Y., abolitionist and suffragette, purchased this two-acre site. Holley was an . . . — — Map (db m22532) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Forrest Landing Road (County Route 612), on the right when traveling west on Northumberland Highway.
During the War of 1812, on 7 Aug. 1814 ten
British ships and smaller vessels appeared on
the Coan River, which flows into the Potomac.
The invaders sent three barges to capture
three American schooners situated within two
miles of . . . — — Map (db m22536) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) at Coan Stage Road (County Route 612), on the right when traveling east on Northumberland Highway.
One mile west stands Coan Baptist Church. The Congregation, first known as Wicomico Baptist Church, was organized on 17 November 1804. The members worshiped in each other’s houses until a frame building, Coan Meeting House, was moved to this site in . . . — — Map (db m22534) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
In April, 2010, a small group of impassioned community members gathered together to discuss the future of Reedville's historic landmark, the 108 year-old Morris-Fisher Stack, which was rapidly deteriorating and in danger of being lost forever. . . . — — Map (db m176475) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
The name: The boat's namesake spelled his name Claude. However, it is thought that when the boat was initially registered the "e" was inadvertently dropped and she has been Claud W. Somers ever since.
Speed capability: the fastest we have . . . — — Map (db m176472) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
This brass propeller was donated by legendary menhaden fish boat captain, John B. Lowry. It was used used on his beloved fish boat, John O, a converted minesweeper. Captain Lowry fished from Long Island, NY to Beaufort, NC from the 1950s to the . . . — — Map (db m176468) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
This artifact is a remnant of a Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe, so called because it was sharp at both ends, constructed from logs rather than planks, and was unique to the Chesapeake Bay. Such vessels, varying in length from 20 ft. to greater than 60 . . . — — Map (db m176473) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The boats in this pavilion and on campus represent one of the important themes of the Museum - life on the water. Each is an example of the small skiffs and larger work boats used in this area by local watermen. The vessels were used for multiple . . . — — Map (db m176485) HM
Near Main Street south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
In 1865 a conservation law in Maryland was passed in an effort to preserve the dwindling oyster supply in the Chesapeake Bay. The law restricted oyster dredging to sailing vessels only, leading to the rise in popularity of the skipjack. In the . . . — — Map (db m299424) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The drive or striker boat was essential to the menhaden fishery before spotter planes came into use after World War II. The captain, mate and drive boatsman would spend the fishing day in the crows nest of the fishing vessel. When a school of . . . — — Map (db m176470) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
The Elva C is a "deck boat," a design that contrasts with boats commonly seen now with larger open cockpits. While deckboats were primarily built for fishing pound and seine nets, they were often used in the off season as freight boats or to buy . . . — — Map (db m176471) HM
Near Main Street south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The Elva C was built in 1922 by Gilbert S. White in Westland, VA. near Windmill Point for Capt. Lee Abbot of Foxwells. NAmed after his daughter, Capt. Abbot used the Elva C for pound net fishing and freight until his retirement in the 1950's. She . . . — — Map (db m299423) HM
Near Main Street south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The Fannie is a 100-year-old traditional Chesapeake deadrise draketail built as a workboat by Charles Spencer in 1924 in Saint Michael's, Maryland and named for his daughter. She features a dolphin nose stern, often referred to as a Hooper's . . . — — Map (db m299425) HM
Near Main Street south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The Foggy River was built in 1961 at the Reedville Marine Railway for Charles Bowels by George P. Butler, the second of three generations to own and operate the railway. As is the custom at the shop, there were no plans on paper - just . . . — — Map (db m299422) HM
On Main Street (U.S. 360) just north of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
George M. Butler built this skiff in 1994 for a local customer. The similarities in design and construction between this skiff and the one built thirty-five years earlier by his father are obvious. With the exception of modern stainless fasteners . . . — — Map (db m176487) HM
Near Main Street at Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
George Pope Butler built this rowing skiff at the Reedville Railway about 1960 for a resident of Reedville. It was donated to the Museum by the original owner in 2016. A hallmark of Butler skiffs is the joinery, with tolerances so close that it . . . — — Map (db m176491) HM
Following paramount chief Opechancanough’s 1644 organized attacks against the English colonists for encroaching on Indian lands, Governor William Berkeley led further military strikes against the Virginia Indians in July 1645, taking many prisoners. . . . — — Map (db m46718) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just east of Old Bethany Road (County Route 703), on the right when traveling east.
Originally known as Northumberland County Training School, this institution opened in 1917, under principal John M. Ellison. Local African Americans raised more than $7,000 to build the school and received additional funding from the Rosenwald Fund. . . . — — Map (db m22954) HM
On Morris-Fisher Stock Lane west of Menhaden Road (County Route 659).
This stack was constructed around 1902 by the Morris-Fisher Co. At the time it was the largest commercial fish processing plant in the United States. In 2011, after years of weather and extensive lightning damage, the stack was restored under the . . . — — Map (db m97781) HM
Near Main Street south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
This stack was constructed around 1902 by the Morris-Fisher Co. At the time it was the largest commercial fish processing plant in the United States. In 2011, after years of weather and extensive lightning damage, the stack was restored under the . . . — — Map (db m299426) HM
On Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just east of Liberty Road (County Route 726), on the right.
Elijah W. Reed, a New England ship captain, established the town in 1874 after building a factory here to process menhaden, a small bony fish rich in oil. Reedville soon became the center of the industry and home port to the Atlantic menhaden . . . — — Map (db m22959) HM
On Main Street (U.S. 360) at Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
Until just after the middle of the twentieth century virtually every family living on or near the water had a boat of this type, often home built. They used it for transportation on the creeks, for hook and line fishing and for crabbing around the . . . — — Map (db m176490) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
This skiff was the tender skiff for the Elva C which is the deck/pound net boat tied at the museum's dock.
She was built in 1972 by George Pope Butler at the Reedville Marine Railway, located on Main Street.
With the Elva C she was a . . . — — Map (db m176486) HM
Near Main Street (U.S. 360) at Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The Lillian-B was designed and built by the volunteers of the Boat Shop at the Reedville Fisherman's Museum under the leadership of Jay Rohmann. This boat is a classic example of a traditional Chesapeake deadrise hull. This distinct type of . . . — — Map (db m176492) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The boat yard on Main Street in Reedville began operation in the late 1800s. In 1906, Samuel Obediah Butler, grandfather of the present owner, George M. Butler, bought the property with a partner. He became sole owner in 1920. There he and his son, . . . — — Map (db m176484) HM
Near Buzzards Point Road (Virginia Route 656) 0.6 miles east of Fairport Road ( Route 646), on the right when traveling south.
The War of 1812. Impressment of Americans into British service and the violation of American ships were among the causes of America’s War of 1812 with the British, which lasted until 1815. Beginning in 1813, Virginians suffered from a British . . . — — Map (db m76404) HM
Near Main Street just south of Reed Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Boats of this type are used in the pound net industry. It is towed to the trap and one or several men use it to go inside the net that forms the pocket of the trap. Standing in this boat they pull the net up so that the fish are tightly contained. A . . . — — Map (db m176469) HM
