Historic House Tour Provides New Opportunity to Visit American History

Westover Plantation

(Charles City County, VA) – With America’s 250th birthday upon us, there is a renewed interest in our nation’s history.  The Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour is once again providing a unique way to visit some of the most historic homes in the United States, all on one day.

The tour, first held by Westover Episcopal Church in 1954, will feature six historic properties in Charles City County for 2026, including two that have not been on the tour for decades.

Charles City County was first settled in the 1600s as colonists expanded their footprint from Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.  The tour makes it possible for visitors to visit some of the most historic homes in America, all within just a few miles of each other.  These homes are rarely open to the public, making the Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour one of the only opportunities to see them in all their glory.

This year’s tour will take place on September 26 from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Proceeds will benefit the Church and its area outreach programs, which include Meals on Wheels, other local feeding programs, and children’s outreach through the County’s Social Services agency.

The following properties are featured this year:

• Berkeley Plantation: Built circa 1726, this plantation was the site of the first Thanksgiving in America and was the ancestral home of Presidents William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.
• River Lea: Sitting on a high bluff overlooking the James River and surrounded by about twenty acres of woods and beautifully landscaped lawn, this 5,400 square foot home was originally built in 1972 and was recently renovated.
• Granville: The home now known as Granville dates to the 1850s and was originally built by the Ladd family, prominent Quakers with deep ties to Central Virginia. Present on the grounds of Granville today is Grace Chapel, dating to 1890, which was once used as a mission chapel for the westernmost parishioners of Westover Episcopal Church.  Granville has not been featured on the Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour since 1996.
• Hardens Bluff: Built with beautiful wide heart-pine floorboards and sitting atop a high bluff, where it commands sweeping views of the James River and the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge, this 150-year-old grain barn was moved in the 1970s to its current location and converted to living quarters.  Hardens Bluff has not been a featured home on the Autumn Pilgrimage House Tour since 2008.
• Westover Plantation: Built around the middle of the 18th Century, Westover Plantation is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in America.
• Westover Episcopal Church: At 413 years old and going strong, this church is home to one of the most historic parishes in the nation.  Past worshipers include Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Tickets are $45 when purchased before September 1, and $60 when purchased after that date.  Pre-order of lunch is also available.  Tickets can be ordered at the Westover Episcopal Church website.

Note that tour sites are not handicapped accessible due to their age and historical status. The tour begins at 6401 John Tyler Memorial Hwy in Charles City, Virginia.  For more information, please call (804) 829-2488.

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