Near Old Virginia Street near Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the right when traveling east.
As you look toward the water, you are viewing a historical landscape. The houses in front of you weren't here 250 years ago, but the Customs House - the building across the street to your left - would have been. Imagine what this place was like back . . . — — Map (db m26632) HM
Near Rappahannock Avenue (Virginia Route T-1001) at Bonner Street.
Here in the garden of Lansdowne was buried Arthur Lee, 1740-1792. The youngest son of Thomas Lee of Stratford. He was graduated in medicine at Edinburgh in 1764 and practiced briefly at Williamsburg, but his zeal for the cause of the American . . . — — Map (db m33887) HM
On Watling Street (Route 1004) 0.1 miles south of Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227), on the left when traveling south.
From the town's beginning, there has been either a ferry or a bridge near this site. County residents traveling to and from the courthouse in Urbanna complained over generations of the slow moving ferry across the creek. The construction of the . . . — — Map (db m186701) HM
On Old Virginia Street (County Route 602) near Town Bridge Road / Lord Mott Road (County Route 615), on the right when traveling west.
in 1678, Christopher Robinson purchased 300 acres here that became Hewick, the Virginia seat of the Robinson family. Robinson’s distinguished service to Virginia began as the clerk of Middlesex County Court from 1677 to 1688. He was elected to the . . . — — Map (db m27178) HM
On Oyster Road, 0.1 miles north of Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602), on the right when traveling north.
During the Civil War, ships came and went into Urbanna Creek as the town was occupied at different times by Federal and Confederate forces. Just off the mouth of the creek, on November 8, 1861, a Union tug and steamer armed with cannons fired . . . — — Map (db m186742) HM
On Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602) just west of Upton Lane, on the right when traveling east.
This building was built in the 1940s to house a Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. The Coca-Cola Company of Chattanooga sold a franchise in 1921 allowing the sale and distribution of Cokes and other soda pop in Middlesex and six surrounding counties. . . . — — Map (db m186713) HM
On Cross Street (Virginia Route 227) just south of Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602), on the right when traveling south.
The courtyard of Middlesex County's colonial courthouse was directly behind the brick courthouse building in view from this panel. In the year 1748, the Town of Urbanna became the county seat of Middlsex County. It remained so for 104 years when . . . — — Map (db m186686) HM
On Cross Street (Virginia Route 227) just south of Oyster Road (Virginia Route 1002), on the right when traveling south.
Cross Street extends over the three main streets in town, Watling, Prince George and Virginia streets. Throughout the town's hisotry, these four streets vied for commercial dominance. At the turn of the 20th century, Cross Street, briefly named . . . — — Map (db m186689) HM
On Kent Street (County Road T-1014) just south of Colorado Avenue (County Road T-1008), on the right when traveling north.
Watermen's Park is a tribute to generations of Urbanna men and women who have made their livings working the water. In June 1680, Virginia's Colonial Assembly approved "An Act for cohabitation and encouragement of trade and manufacture" and . . . — — Map (db m186730) HM
On Old Virginia Street at Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the right when traveling east on Old Virginia Street.
Born in Lancaster County on 13 Apr. 1711, John Mitchell studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and in 1734 opened a practice of medicine here in Urbanna. In 1746, he moved to London, where he published his Map of the British and French . . . — — Map (db m26575) HM
On Old Virginia Street (County Route 602) west of Upton Lane, on the right when traveling west.
In 1763 Ralph Wormeley III of Rosegill sold this house to James Mills, a Scottish merchant. In 1791 Arthur Lee bought it and 1,000 adjacent acres to be his home in retirement. Lee named this estate Landsdowne in honor of his friend, William . . . — — Map (db m27015) HM
On Old Virginia Street (County Route 602) west of Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the left when traveling west.
This building served as the Middlesex County courthouse from 1748 to 1852. Although much altered from its original appearance, it is one of Virginia’s rare colonial courthouse buildings. During the American Revolution, the local Committee of Safety . . . — — Map (db m27011) HM
Near Old Virginia Street near Cross Street (Virginia Route 27).
Traditionally known as the Old Tobacco Warehouse. Built 1766 by James Mills, Scottish merchant. First used as a store and/or warehouse.Owned and authentically restored by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. — — Map (db m26605) HM
On Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227) 0.1 miles east of Mollys Way, on the left when traveling west.
In 1608, Capt. John Smith mapped Opiscopank near here as an Indian town where a chief lived. Oddly, his narratives did not mention visiting the town or how he learned about it. In 1649, Ralph Wormeley patented 3,200 acres here that included “the . . . — — Map (db m74697) HM
On Oyster Road east of Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602), on the right when traveling east.
From 1850s to the 1950s, the town's fall and winter economy was driven by oysters. Urbanna's strategic location to fertile Rappahannock River oyster beds encouraged oyster hand-tongers to come to town from September to March. Oystermen from . . . — — Map (db m186726) HM
Near Old Virginia Street near Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the right when traveling east.
This historical landscape hasn't really changed in the past 250 years. The Factor Store has gone through many transitions from a tobacco inspection facility and general store, to private homes, to the Urbanna Library and, finally, to the museum you . . . — — Map (db m26631) HM
On Prince George Street, 0.1 miles west of Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the right when traveling west.
Prince George Street is one of the original streets shown on early 1700s town survyes. The Middlesex County Courtyard backed up to the street and today the colonial "Old Tavern" still stands. Taverns or ordinaries were important to Middlesex's . . . — — Map (db m186702) HM
On Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227) south of County Route 1070, on the right when traveling north.
A short distance east is Rosegill. The house was built about 1650 by the first Ralph Wormeley; it became the summer home of the colonial governors, Sir Henry Chicheley and Lord Howard of Effingham. In 1776, the owner, the fifth Ralph Wormeley, was . . . — — Map (db m27005) HM
On Old Virginia Street east of Cross Street (Virginia Route 227), on the left when traveling east.
Sandwich, circa 1754, is registered as a Virginia Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 2008. — — Map (db m26858) HM
On Oyster Road (Virginia Route 1002) 0.2 miles north of Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602), on the left when traveling north.
(panel 1)
Smith's Snapshot
The semi-permanent nature of their towns reflected the highly sustainable lifestyle of Virginia’s Indians. They located towns next to waterways, in places with the best soils. As farming depleted . . . — — Map (db m97249) HM
On Watling Street (Virginia Route 1004) 0.1 miles east of Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227), on the left when traveling south.
The golden era of steamboats began when two steam-powered side-wheel vessels out of Norfolk named Petersburg and Albemarle arrived in 1821 at the mouth of Urbanna Creek. In 1828, a Baltimore firm started the first commercial . . . — — Map (db m186696) HM
Near Old Virginia Street near Cross Street (Virginia Route 227).
The quiet landscape you see today was once teeming with activity.
There was a garden behind the store that provided vegetables for home use and possibly for sale or trade. There was a larger garden area as well, which was probably tended by . . . — — Map (db m26606) HM
On Rappahannock Avenue (Virginia Route T-1001) at Bonner Street, on the right when traveling north on Rappahannock Avenue.
Nearby, in the garden of Lansdowne, was buried Arthur Lee, 1740-1792, the youngest son of Thomas Lee of Stratford. Early in 1776 he secretly obtained the original grant of French military supplies for the Continental Army, which made possible the . . . — — Map (db m33886) HM
On Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602) 0.1 miles east of Cross Street (Route 227), on the right when traveling east.
Right in front of you is one of the oldest roads in America, Prettyman's Rolling Road descends to the waterfront at the end of Virginia Street. The early economy of Virginia was built from the growing and selling of tobacco. Urbanna Creek . . . — — Map (db m186723) HM
Near Old Virginia Street at Cross Street (Virginia Route 227).
In Colonial Virginia, tobacco was money - a product in high demand in England. Acts were passed providing for the inspection of tobacco to ensure quality and to make sure that correct payments were made for its sale and purchase.
All tobacco . . . — — Map (db m26630) HM
On Grace Avenue (County Road T-1010) at Park Street, on the right when traveling south on Grace Avenue.
Before being developed, this area in town was home field to the Urbanna semi-pro baseball team. Alvin G. Loving purchased the land in the 1930s and built a baseball field complete with stands and removable canvases for outfield walls. Urbanna . . . — — Map (db m186710) HM
On Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227), on the left when traveling north.
First known as Nimcock Creek, this creek was mentioned in a legislative act of 1680 as “Wormley’s Creek.” After the town of Urbanna was named in 1705 for Queen Anne, the stream was given the same name. British privateersmen entered the . . . — — Map (db m27009) HM
On Rappahannock Avenue (County Road T-1001) at Bonner Street, on the right when traveling south on Rappahannock Avenue.
Taber Park was once home to Urbanna High School, later known as Urbanna Graded School. The two-story brick school building then located here was completed in 1911 by Sidney Muire as a state-of-the-art school facility. It served elementary and . . . — — Map (db m186704) HM
On Cross Street (Virginia Route 227) just south of Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602), on the right when traveling south.
Welcome to Urbanna, Virginia
Along this walking tour you will find illustrated panels presenting many lively stories and facts about the town, its buildings, its residents and their lives. Urbanna's origin goes back to June 1680, when . . . — — Map (db m186685) HM
On Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602) 0.1 miles east of Upton Lane, on the left when traveling east.
Virginia Street is one of the oldest streets in America and the busiest in Urbanna. There are five original colonial buildings standing. Three of Urbanna's most famous residents, Dr. Arthur Lee, Dr. John Mitchell, and Andrew Jackson Montague . . . — — Map (db m186717) HM
On Watling Street (Virginia Route 1004) at Urbanna Road (Virginia Route 227), on the right when traveling west on Watling Street.
The colonial ferry, later a one-lane bridge, and a steamboat landing paved the way over time for Watling Street to become a main avenue into town. Originally named Wadling Lane, the street in the 1880s wound from the bridge to a carpenter shop . . . — — Map (db m186692) HM
On Virginia Street (Virginia Route 602) just east of Rappahannock Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Town buildings provide an interesting contrast in American architectural periods. This colonial one and a half story (circa 1747), Wormeley, Lee, Montague House, is the oldest post and beam structure in town. In 1791, Revolutionary War dimplomat . . . — — Map (db m186703) HM
