Smithfield Plantation
Smithfield Plantation
4.5

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles105 reviews
Excellent
72
Very good
28
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
1

GoPlaces00143147862
Williamsburg, VA3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2018 • Couples
We came to Smithfield to learn about the history of the plantation in SW VA. An older white man gave the tour. he had the nerve to call the enslaved people ‘servants’... !!!! He didn’t say a single thing not once about the enslaved, the individuals who made the plantation run day in and out for decades for the plantation owners. I kept thinking about the invisible lives of these poor enslaved people the whole time, just waiting for there to be a conversation about them or even acknowledgement, but there was ZERO effort to show that side of history. I have been to other plantations in the South that do a much better job of this. We got a totally whitewashed tour thanks to Smithfield. Never coming back again wish I hadn’t paid for a tour
Written October 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David W
4 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Family
I took my sister and mother on a tour here just this week. I have toured Smithfield before and was excited to share because of the wonderful tour we had with a historian in spring. Now they have college students giving the tours. The quality of the tour has totally plummeted. Don't waste your money on the tour! You can explore the grounds for free though the gardens feel neglected. The student couldn't answer many of our questions - a disappointment.
Written July 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bluebelldays
Blacksburg, VA17 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Couples
I wanted to like Smithfield, I really did. But I found admission pretty overpriced and the exhibits not all that interesting. Even the grounds could use a little bit more oomph. Still, happy for the historical preservation going on. I just wouldn't put it on the must-see list.
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott K
Blacksburg, VA22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2018 • Family
It is hard to believe that such a wonderful place exists right next to the Virginia Tech campus. The house and grounds are in excellent condition and the staff is very informative. We've been to Madison and Jefferson's homes. This is a step down from those in terms of the preservation and the size but they have done an impressive job resorting the home. Well worth the visit. Give the smaller size and smaller number of visitors, it's s good location for kids.
Written July 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RHfam
Round Hill, VA24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017
We stumbled upon Smithfield Plantation while in Blacksburg with a few hours to spare. Tucked into a corner of the Virginia Tech campus, it's a lovely, well-tended garden spot with a very interesting house to tour historically. Our tour operator, a working historian herself, was quite knowledgable on both the founding family and the impact to local and national politics, leading right up to the Civil War. Give yourself an hour or two here, very recommended.
Written January 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chaos_Rabbit
Blacksburg, VA14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2014 • Family
This historic plantation on the Virginia Tech campus preserves a fascinating part of Virginia history. The exhibits are beautiful and the interpreters do a great job of explaining life at the time, for the wealthy plantation family as well as for the slaves and servants/farm workers. There is something for everyone here--historic garden, buildings, work equipment, toys. They do a wonderful holiday tea in December and they often have children as volunteers in period dress and playing traditional games. The gift shop is a great place for old-fashioned toys and books for children as well as many beautiful Virginia-made items, such as beeswax candles.
Written September 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kirbyhall2015
Herndon, VA220 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2018 • Family
Strongly recommend a visit to Smithfield Plantation when you're in Blacksburg. The plantation is small enough for a quick visit in between activities on the Tech campus, and can be reached from Duck Pond by a two-minute drive. However, if the place catches your fancy, you can easily spend one or two hours, or more, learning its amazing history and the vibrant, tragic, and inspirational life stories of the individuals who occupied it since 1772. The main building looks like a house you'd find in Williamsburg - which is no accident, as the original builder wanted to bring a taste of 'burg life to the area. The story of the house and its inhabitants add a fascinating dimension to understanding the Blacksburg area as a part of our nation's history. As you park, make sure you notice the 500-year-old oak standing stately in its field in front of the house. Five stars, highly recommended by this Virginia history lover.
Written February 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Huey L
Roanoke, VA104 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Friends
This small plantation is surrounded, but not owned by, Virginia Tech. I really enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to anyone else who likes historical tours. There are also some nice items in the gift shop for a variety of budgets.
Written November 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,761 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Couples
We were traveling on I-81 so, as a retired sportswriter, I was encouraged to visit the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. How does it compare to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville? At the same time, as a historian, I was urged to visit Smithfield, a plantation outside Blacksburg dating to 1773. Once part of a plantation that covered 120,000 acres, it was the home of Colonel William Preston, an important colonial political leader and friend of George Washington, and birthplace of two Virginia governors. The house remained in the family until 1959 when it was donated to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. The house is a one-and-a-half story frame L-shaped structure covered in beaded clapboard siding with high ceilings and large rooms. Located on what was then the edge of the frontier of Colonial America, the sophistication and generous scale of the architecture recalls many of the plantation homes of Tidewater Virginia. The most unique feature of the interior is the front stairway. The Chinese Chippendale design and unusual turning at the second floor makes it unique on the frontier. The house features many original Preston family furnishings. There is a letter from George Washington, inviting Preston to dinner. Enjoy a guided tour of the house and a self-guided tour of the gardens, the Weaver's Cottage and the Cider House. Also browse through the museum shop and gift shop. It was fascinating to learn about tea being sold in compressed, stamped bricks that could be used for money, giving a whole new meaning to the Boston Tea Party.
Written October 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

devoful
Lorena, TX22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Couples
Looking for something to do on a rainy day, my husband and I stumbled in here based on reviews from TA. This plantation is accessed via the campus of VA Tech. It costs $8/adult for the tour and is worth every cent. (I guess tours start on the hour but they just add you to the last group and the tour guide gets you up to speed if you're not exactly on time. Our group was just 8 people). The house is not huge, and the outbuildings are not open, but the sweet little old lady giving the tour was priceless. The house was built in 1774 and is very hands-on (except no sitting on the furniture, of course) and photography IS allowed. Highlights were all the pearls of history our guide knew from reading letters, documents, etc. I also loved learning about tea being sold in compressed, stamped bricks that could be used for money (gives new insight into the Boston Tea Party and exactly what they may have been tossing overboard) and seeing a beautiful painting of a younger George Washington hanging in the office (the original is at VMI). There is also a letter from George Washington inviting Mr. Preston to dinner.

Fyi -- There are steep staircases to the second floor and down to the kitchen and gift shop area that would be hard for those with mobility issues. Also, you can purchase the tea "bricks" in the gift shop. I think they would make a great conversation piece!
Written August 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Smithfield Plantation - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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