Park of the Month: Chippokes Plantation State Park
First Time Day-Tripper: History in Action at Chippokes Plantation State Park
It begins in Kindergarten and continues through college, the realization that history is an important part of culture. The idea that history, even long past, continues to shape modern culture. History has a value, but that value depends on the person and issometimes cultivated over time and sometimes comes alive in an “Aha!” moment.
This civil war era mansion gave me an idea of what life might have been like back then.
At Chippokes was definitely an "Aha!" moment for me.
Fossils are all over the river bed and surrounding cliffs.
Fossils are all over the river bed and surrounding cliffs.
Chippokes Plantation State Park is one ofthe oldest operating plantations in the nation, being continually farmed since 1619. That's a heck of a lot of corn, cotton, and soybeans!! Frommillion-year-old fossils and colonial sewing kits to ancient scallop shells and Virginia Indian pottery, the park has plenty of interesting things to learn about. While walking along some the of the trails, I thought it would make for a great field trip for my history class at VCU next semester. Maybe the next time I’m stumped for a topic in my history class or can’t think of what to write for my English term paper, I’ll head out here for a hike to get inspired by the past.
From old farm equipment to old carriages, the park has interesting things to research and write about.
A day trip to Virginia State Parks has to offer!
Chippokes Plantation State Park has picnic shelters, a visitor center, riverside beaches, an incredible historic area complete with the Farm & Forestry Museum, a civil-war era Mansion, and a lot of other historic buildings including four former sharecropper houses that have been converted to modern rentable cabins.
Four cabins are available for overnight stays. Call 1-800-933-PARK for reservations.
After a hot day of hiking trails and talking with my intern supervisor, Staci Martin, about my ideas for getting more people to come to the park, I was kicking myself for not bringing my bathing suit so I could jump into the Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The Olympic-sized swimming pool is great for cooling off on hot days.
The Olympic-sized swimming pool is great for cooling off on hot days.
There is always something going on at the park–canoe trips, fossil walks, hearth cooking, mansion tours–click here for a calendar of events.
Chippokes Plantation State Park is located off Route 10 in Surry, Virginia.