Smithfield, incorporated in 1752, maintains its quaint river town feel and is known worldwide for its famous ham curing process. It delivers “hams, history, hospitality & HeART.”
Day 1:
Begin at the Visitor Center - also home to the Arts Center @ 319 - offering tourist information, a gallery/gift shop & the chance to chat with resident artists. Peruse the 5 art galleries in the historic district & stop by the post office which features a mural depicting the early settlers of the county.
Lunch at the Gourmet Bakery.Take in the unique shops downtown. Depicting such figures as Benjamin Franklin, Robert Frost, & the “Valentine Couple,” 6 bronze statues are placed throughout town or pick up a map to our Porcine Parade, 8 Market hog statues depicting the history and culture of the area.
Finish with dinner at Smithfield Station or at Taste of Smithfield,Smithfield Foods' flagship cafe and shop, then take in one of our local concerts or events.
Day 2:
Breakfast downtown at the Gourmet Bakery, then visit the Isle of Wight County Museum with its overview of the county’s history, the world's oldest ham & beautiful stained glass dome. Take a Walking Tour of the Historic District featuring over 50 historic buildings, including the 1750 Courthouse, modeled after the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg, & the Schoolhouse Museum, an African-American Museum built in 1932.
Lunch at the Ice Cream Parlor, then head to Historic Saint Luke's Church (c1632), the oldest existing church of English foundation in America & the only surviving original brick Gothic church. There are two bronze statues on the grounds at St. Luke’s. The county offers 2 historic forts in lovely natural settings overlooking the James River. Historic Fort Huger, the "Gateway to the Confederate Capital," offers a self-guided walking tour to view mounted cannon & the ghost fleet. Fort Boykin Historic Park was constructed in 1623 to protect the colonists from the Indians & raiding Spaniards.
Finish your visit to Smithfield & Isle of Wight County with dinner riverside at Captain Chuck-a-Muck’s in the scenic village of Rescue.