Bacon’s Castle

Specialties

Bacon’s Castle was originally home to a prosperous planter, Arthur Allen, and his family. Built in 1665, it is the oldest brick dwelling in the United States and has the oldest English formal garden in North America. Bacon’s Castle is the nation’s only surviving High Jacobean structure. ¶ Following Allen’s death, the house was inherited by his son, Major Arthur Allen II. A loyalist supporter of the colonial government and member of the House of Burgesses, Major Allen was driven from his house in 1676 by followers of the patriot rebel Nathaniel Bacon, whose uprising later came to be known as Bacon’s Rebellion. The episode later gave Bacon’s Castle its name though the house remained in the Allen family until 1844. ¶ The design of the 17^th century garden is based on archeological evidence as well as a careful study of surviving documents to replicate what was on site during the lifetime of Arthur Allen and his son, generously sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia. ¶ Throughout the season, Bacon’s Castle hosts many special events for families as well as academic symposiums and hands-​on workshops. On weekends, visitors to the house can enjoy a guided tour of the house, a self-​guided tour of the grounds, outbuildings, gardens, or browse the museum store. A cell phone tour is available dawn to dusk on days when the site is not open to the public. ¶

History

Established in 1665.

Preservation Virginia is the oldest state-​wide historic preservation organization in the United States. ¶ We are sites, individuals, and initiatives activating the power of places and memory to engage the public in connecting past and present in order to protect Virginia’s threatened historic sites. ¶ Begun in 1889 to save Virginia’s historic places, Preservation Virginia is now the state’s leading preservation advocate. We work collaboratively with local advocacy groups to save threatened historic sites. Our annual endangered sites listings have been instrumental in saving hundreds of places that tell the stories within their communities. We own and operate six historic sites in Virginia: Cape Henry Lighthouse, Historic Jamestowne, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, The John Marshall House, Bacon’s Castle and Smith’s Fort Plantation.

Meet the Business Owner

Todd B.

Business Owner

We are the go-​to resource for saving Virginia’s historic places. As the oldest statewide preservation organization in the country, Preservation Virginia leverages its 125+ years of experience to benefit local communities; our projects, programs and advocacy are tailored to meet current needs in the Commonwealth.

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