SURRY GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Smith’s Fort, Surry — Earthworks, an 18th‑century manor, and the layered history of an unfinished fort
A one‑hour visit to the site of Captain John Smith’s proposed “New Fort” across the James River that traces colonial and African American histories preserved by Preservation Virginia.
Smith’s Fort, Surry — Earthworks, an 18th‑century manor, and the layered history of an unfinished fort.
Smith’s Fort sits directly across the James River from Jamestown, where low earthworks mark the spot of Captain John Smith’s proposed “New Fort,” an unfinished fortification begun in 1609 and later abandoned. The property includes an 18th‑century manor built for Jacob Faulcon c.1765 with much of its original pine woodwork, and a recorded sequence of ownership that includes African American families in the late 19th century before acquisition by Preservation Virginia in 1933; the site has operated as a museum since then.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Earthworks of the Unfinished 1609 Fort
Low earthworks on the riverfront mark the location of the incomplete fort Captain John Smith proposed in 1609. They are the primary field evidence tying the site to early colonial attempts at fortification across from Jamestown.
Jacob Faulcon’s c.1765 Manor
The manor house on the property was built for Jacob Faulcon around 1765 and retains much of its original pine woodwork, offering a rare intact example of 18th‑century craftsmanship on site.
A Site of Colonial and African American Heritage
After a late‑19th‑century purchase by a group of African American families, the property changed hands through the early 20th century before Preservation Virginia acquired Smith’s Fort in 1933; it has operated as a museum since that acquisition.
What the day feels like
What a visit feels like
In an hour you move between low, telling earthworks by the James River and the restored manor house, following a single site that compresses early colonial ambitions and later community histories. Interpreted grounds and the museum presence make the site legible: the unfinished 1609 fort, the c.1765 interior woodwork, and the documented chain of ownership that culminated in Preservation Virginia’s stewardship and museum operation beginning in 1933.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from Smith’s Fort
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Typical guided visits run one hour.
The site meeting point is 217 Smith Fort Lane, Surry, Virginia 23883.
Smith’s Fort is operated by Preservation Virginia; the property has been operated as a museum since its acquisition in 1933.
Confirm tour schedules, accessibility details, and any visitor guidance directly with Preservation Virginia.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does a visit take?
The visit is one hour.
Where is the meeting point?
Meet at 217 Smith Fort Lane, Surry, Virginia 23883.
What remains of the original fort?
Low earthworks on the site mark the location of the unfinished fort begun in 1609.
Who operates Smith’s Fort?
Preservation Virginia operates the site, which it acquired in 1933 and has run as a museum since.
What is notable about the manor house?
The manor house was built for Jacob Faulcon around 1765 and retains much of its original pine woodwork.
What is the property's later ownership history?
In 1886 the property (then Gray’s Creek Farm) was purchased by a group of African American families; by the 1920s Bolling Morris was the sole owner before the property was sold via an agent to John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and later acquired by Preservation Virginia in 1933.