Shared by Laura Rann, as Guest Blogger.

If you should wake up early one morning in Central Virginia, get in your car and cross the right bridge at the right moment, you may think that you’ve driven back in time. As the early morning mist rises from the warm water of the James River, the ghostly figures of river folk in historic wooden batteaux silently pole downstream.

The James River Batteau Festival, an annual week-long event sponsored by the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society that begins in Lynchburg and ends in Richmond, is a floating piece of history that is not to be missed. 

James River State Park will be participating in the Batteau Festival

The batteau was originally used as a cargo vessel, hauling tobacco leaves packed in giant barrels called “hogsheads”, down the James River to Richmond where the cargo was transferred to sailing ships bound for Europe. They plied the James from the 1700s until the coming of the railroad, which made most commercial river travel obsolete. Though no original batteaux exist today, the remains of several were discovered by construction workers on a project in Richmond in 1983.

Alternative Spring Break groups working on the park’s batteau this year

in preparation for the summer voyage

The batteaux that participate in the Batteau Festival are replicas based on the original designs and the surviving fragments of the boats found in Richmond. They are designed to withstand the rocks and shallow water that are a feature of the summertime James and are built of white oak, with no keel. Largely propelled by the current and kept off of rocks by long wooden poles, there is a “sweep” at each end to steer.

The boats float a section of the river each day, with the crews tying up and camping at predetermined sites at night.

The “Madison” will be sweeping down the James River this year in the Batteau Festival

See our Batteau in action at Powhatan State Park

James River State Park will be participating in the Batteau Festival for the second time. The “Madison”, a batteau donated to the park in 2017 by the Explore Park in Roanoke, has been refurbished and made river ready by VCNS volunteers and the Friends of James River State Park.

She will do a shortened float, arriving at the park on Monday, June 17 and ending her voyage there. Spectators will have a front row seat for boat watching on that day, as all of the participating batteaux plus many accompanying canoes and kayaks pass by.

Then, on Saturday, June 22, 2019 they will navigate down the river at Powhatan State Park to finish up at Maiden’s Landing. It is an unforgettable experience so pack a picnic, come out and watch history float by!

You'll find Powhatan State Park in the northwest corner of Powhatan County on the historic James River. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, two hours; Richmond, 45 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half hours; Roanoke, three hours. For directions to Powhatan State Park, click here. 

James River State Park is in Buckingham County. Drive Time: Northern Va., three hours; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, four hours; Roanoke, two hours; Charlottesville, one and a half hours; Lynchburg, 50 minutes.  For directions to James River State Park, click here. 

History Afloat: 120 River Miles | 8 days | from Lynchburg, VA to Richmond, VA