<< Return to EndGame PR News

Organizers Unveil 2018 Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour Properties

Historic Westover Episcopal Church

(Charles City, Virginia) – An expert once said that school children in the Old Dominion have it easy, because the history of Virginia is basically the history of the country.  Much of that history is found in the area between Richmond and Norfolk — in particular, in Charles City County.  Organizers from Westover Church, a historic building in its own right, are once again highlighting many of the most important properties in this area that is truly the birthplace of our nation, during the 2018 Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour.

Each year, some of America’s most historic homes open their doors for this tour, and some are only open to the public on that one day.  The tour is a fundraiser that Westover Church started circa 1954, and this year is being held on September 29.

The following properties are featured on this year’s tour:

  • Berkeley Plantation: Built circa 1726, this plantation was the site of the first Thanksgiving and was the ancestral home of U.S. Presidents William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.
  • Sherwood Forest Plantation: Home of President John Tyler, this plantation home was begun circa 1660 with additions through 1845.
  • Shirley Plantation: Virginia’s oldest plantation, this property was settled in 1613, only six years after Jamestown was founded.  It’s the oldest family-owned business operating in North America.
  • Dogham: The land comprising Dogham was granted by the Crown to Joseph Royall in August 1637. The property is notable not only for its antiquity but also for its continuous ownership and occupation by descendants of the same family.
  • BarnStone: This unusual house was originally a post-and-beam dairy barn found in disrepair in Bedford, PA. A West Virginia barn saver helped in the complex process of dismantling and reconstructing the barn on the present 13-acre site overlooking the James River.
  • River Pointe: A three-level Mediterranean-style house situated on a prominent bluff overlooking the James, River Pointe is the weekend home of former Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder.
  • Westover Plantation: Built circa 1730, Westover Plantation is considered one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in America.
  • Westover Episcopal Church: More than 400 years old and going strong, this church is home to one of the most historic parishes in the nation.

High resolution photos of each property are available upon request.  A high resolution video of Westover Plantation is available here.  A printable tour map is available here.

Details and Tickets:
2018 Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour is from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 the day of the event.  A limited number of tickets are available.  The deadline for online advance ticket sales is 6 p.m. on September 28.  Tour tickets may be purchased in advance at http://westoverepiscopalchurch.org  or they can also be purchased by calling 757-561-6430.

Day-of-the-event tickets may be purchased in person on September 29 at Sherwood Forest Plantation, River Pointe, Westover Episcopal Church, Westover Plantation and BarnStone.

On the day of the event, luncheon food, including Brunswick stew, pulled pork barbecue, hamburgers and hot dogs, will be available at the church. As a convenience, box lunches can be ordered in advance and picked up at the church the day of the event.

The house tour generates funds for Westover Church’s Meals on Wheels program and several other area social services programs.

###