Shared by Samuel Edwards, Marketing Intern, as Guest Blogger.

It begins in Kindergarten and continues through college, the realization that history is an important part of culture. The idea is that history, even long past, continues to shape modern culture. 

History has a value, but that value depends on the person and is sometimes cultivated over time and sometimes comes alive in an “Aha!” moment.  

Exploring the James River at Chippokes State Park (image source: Audra McBride)

At Chippokes State Park there are plenty of opportunities for those “Aha!” moments and for long reflection on years past. 

There is history here in every step you take. 

 This civil war era mansion gave me an idea of what life might have been like back then

Whether it’s walking along the same trails of the Jamestown colonists, surveying the land as if you were Captain William Powell having just gotten notice of your land grant, or knowing that your footprint may be on the exact same track that a Virginia Indian left so many years ago. 

History came alive when I was walking along the river's edge, feet crunching on fossils of this ancient ocean bed, peering up at the eroding cliffs as if I, too, am a New World colonist seeing it for the first time. Here, the spirit of survival comes alive.  Visiting Chippokes was definitely an "Aha!" moment for me. 

 Fossils are all over the riverbed

Chippokes State Park is one of the oldest operating plantations in the nation, being continually farmed since 1619. That's a heck of a lot of corn, cotton, and soybeans. From million-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 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 carriages, the park has interesting things to see and write about

A day trip to Chippokes State Park has to include a trip on the Jamestown-Scotland car ferry. It was my first time and I thoroughly enjoyed the wind whipping across the river and watching cormorants and seagulls perched on the landings. 

The Park has picnic shelters, a visitor center, riverside beaches, an incredible historic area complete with the Farm and 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 

Chippokes State Park is located off Route 10 in Surry, Virginia.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia: 2 - 3 hours; Richmond: 1.5 hours; Virginia Beach: 1.5 hours; Roanoke: 4 hours. For directions, rates and more park info, click here.