Bacon’s Castle

This was a gorgeous estate.
I learned some great things about days past.
They are NOT state funded so any financial help is greatly appreciated.

Very nice day visit
Very interesting and staff are exceptionally nice and friendly.
After visiting Smithfield this is another good stop
Good for field trip
Prices are reasonable

Don’t be fooled by the name, there is no bacon here. I was quite upset at this revelation. However, this is a great site of local historical significance. Aside from the history, it’s also an interesting lesson in architecture.

I found this site via Groupon and cannot express how much I enjoyed visiting here. The history of the house is rich and it is a true architectural wonder, as it is the only surviving example of its kind in North America. The staff was unfailingly pleasant and informative. It is a touch out-​of-​the-​way, requiring a ferry to cross the river from Williamsburg, but it is well worth it.
There are numerous picnic tables in a shady area so taking a picnic would make it a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
This place is not supported by the government, Colonial Williamsburg or anything else, it is wholly supported by donations and tours. It is in pretty good shape for something so old but could definitely use an influx of tourists to help with restoring it in tip-​top shape.
It really is a beautiful old house and I highly recommend it.

This is a hidden architectural and historical gem.
First off, along with being the oldest known brick building in Virginia, it’s also the only surviving example of Jacobean architecture in North America. The interior is just as interesting, with examples of both 17^th and 18^th century interior architecture and design, and on the tour you learn about the modifications that were made in the 18^th century to make the house seem contemporary. (Nowadays we just tear down and put up a McMansion when we don’t like sleepy bungalows.)
The tour I received was amazing and well worth the admission. It was less of a narrated tour, and more like having someone unfold the story of the house for me. While you aren’t going to see anything lavish or ostentatious that you would at Colonial Williamsburg, this also isn’t a reproduction. It’s a real historical site and with the excellent tour you can let your imagination run wild thinking about how people lived and worked here.
There is a small, well-​appointed gift shop, with souvenirs that are just from Bacon’s Castle, to your more generic items like CDs and «colonial» chocolate. One thing that made me shake my head was that all the admissions, sales, etc. were still being written down on paper logs. Such a waste of time waiting. Same thing with gathering my name, address, etc… an iPad and a Square reader would get all that info much more quickly!
I was able to be here when they were doing a Bonfire Night/​Guy Fawkes’ celebration, and it was a blast. Not only was there an effigy burning and bonfire, but lots of time to walk around the grounds and see the restored garden and one of the slave dwellings. So while this place is somewhat remote — if you can come see it, do, it will be worth the trip!