National Historic Landmark

Shirley

Charles City, Charles City County, Virginia
Listed
September 30, 1969
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
69000328

About this property

Shirley Plantation is an estate on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It is located off scenic byway State Route 5, between Richmond and Williamsburg. It is the oldest active plantation in Virginia, settled in 1613 and is also the oldest family-owned business in North America, when it was acquired by the Hill family, with operations starting in 1638. White indentured servants were initially used as the main labor force until the early 1700s, when Black slavery became the primary source of Virginian labor. It used about 70 to 90 African slaves at a time for plowing the fields, cleaning, childcare, and cooking. It was added to the National Register in 1969 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. After the acquisition, rebranding, and merger of Tuttle Farm in Dover, New Hampshire, Shirley Plantation received the title of the oldest business continuously operating in the United States.

Location

Charles City, Charles City County, Virginia
37.34266, -77.26094

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Shirley

This page lists Shirley. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Upper Shirley
Industrial
0.4 mi
Town of Bermuda Hundred Historic District
Colonial
0.7 mi
Dogham, Doggams
Industrial
1.9 mi
Appomattox Manor
Colonial
2 mi
City Point Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Listed
2.1 mi

Nearby Battles

James River Squadron operations 1864
1864Civil War
1.5 mi
Battle of Malvern Hill (Seven Days)
1862Civil War
1.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Shirley listed on the National Register?

Shirley was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1969.

What type of historic resource is Shirley?

Shirley is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Shirley a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Shirley has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Shirley?

The period of significance for Shirley is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Shirley?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Shirley will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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