Berkeley’s House and Grounds
Closed January 2 through March 13
Reopening March 14
Open daily, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Reservations are accepted for groups of 20 or more.
2026 Events
Building a Nation: Benjamin Harrison V & Berkeley’s Manor House Tricentennial Celebration
April 11, 2026
Celebrate the 300th anniversary of Berkeley’s 1726 Georgian mansion, one of Virginia’s oldest three-story brick houses and birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Enjoy a full day of guided house tours, self-guided garden tours, museum access, hands-on children’s activities, reenactors, period dancing, exhibits and more. The Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence will honor Benjamin Harrison V with a commemorative ceremony beginning at 12:30 p.m. All tours, activities, and commemorative ceremony are included with regular admission tickets. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Historic Garden Week Tours
April 19 & 20, 2026
Sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia
Historic Berkeley, Shirley, and Westover celebrate Historic Garden Week with a special combination ticket which allows access to the extensive grounds, outbuildings, and first-floor interiors of all three historic sites. Tour proceeds help fund the restoration and preservation of gardens throughout Virginia. For more information and to purchase combination tickets visit www.vagardenweek.org.
Homeschool Days
May 1 through 7, 2026
During the first week of May, Berkeley offers special discounted admission for homeschool students and their families. Enjoy a guided house tour focused on eighteenth-century plantation life, explore the museum’s paintings and artifacts, and stroll the five restored garden terraces leading to the James River. Picnic areas are available or bring a blanket and enjoy lunch by the river shore.
Admission: $12 per adult | $6.50 per student (K–12). Tickets purchased upon arrival.
Reservations are required for groups of ten or more. Call (804) 829-6018.
The Making of America: Freedom for Some Exploring the Lives and Contributions of Berkeley’s Enslaved Community
May 16, 2026
This all-inclusive guided tour explores more than four hundred years of Berkeley’s enslaved and enslaver history. Beginning at the Enslaved Quarters and continuing through the main floor of the 1726 manor house, the tour shares the stories of individuals who lived and labored at Berkeley—from enslavement to life as free men and women.
Following the guided tour, guests may explore the colonial kitchen, exhibits, museum, gardens, and grounds.
Tour Begins: 10:00 a.m. (Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your tour begins)
Admission: $20 per person
Reservations required.
This tour is also available as a specialty tour for groups of twenty or more on select dates, subject to availability.
Welcome to Berkeley Plantation
Join us in celebrating the 300th anniversary of Berkeley’s 1726 Georgian mansion. Built from brick fired on the plantation, the mansion sits atop a hill overlooking the historic James River. The date of construction and the initials of the original owners, Benjamin Harrison IV and his wife, Anne, appear in a datestone above a side door.
Berkeley’s mansion is one of the oldest three-story brick houses in Virginia. The elegant Adam woodwork and distinctive double arches of the ‘Great Room’ were added by Benjamin Harrison VI at the direction of Thomas Jefferson. The mansion’s exterior walls are an impressive 36 inches thick, topped with a slate roof, and a spacious central hall divides the home. Three floors rise above the basement, each containing four grand rooms.
Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the first child born in the mansion and lived there until his death in 1791.
A Nation’s History
On July 4, 2026, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s past and to educate future generations about the sacrifices and contributions made in the pursuit of independence.
Berkeley’s story reaches even further back, beginning in 1619, when settlers observed what is recognized as the first official Thanksgiving in America.
A Legacy That Shaped America
Berkeley is not only the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Virginia, but also the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, ninth president of the United States, and the ancestral home of his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, the twenty-third president.
During the Civil War, Berkeley was occupied by General George McClellan’s Union troops. While at Berkeley, General Daniel Butterfield composed the familiar tune “Taps,” first played by his bugler, O.W. Norton.
Explore the Mansion, Gardens, and Exhibits
The mansion is furnished with a rare collection of eighteenth-century antiques, Chinese porcelain, and English silver. Costumed guides lead guests through the main floor sharing stories of the first Thanksgiving, the Harrison family, the Civil War, and Berkeley’s present owners.
Native American, Colonial, and Civil War artifacts, along with historical paintings and exhibits can be explored in the eighteenth-century basement museum. The original kitchen dependency and reconstructed slave quarters tell the story of the enslaved workers who lived and worked at Berkeley.
Gardens and grounds tours are at your own pace and include five terraces leading to the banks of the James River. Benches along the way invite guests to rest and enjoy the sweeping river views.
Seasonal Traditions and Family Experiences
During the autumn season, guests can pick a pumpkin and explore Berkeley’s corn maze. On the first Sunday in November, Berkeley commemorates the historic 1619 landing. Each December, the plantation is beautifully decorated with traditional holiday greenery gathered from Berkeley’s gardens.
Tours, gift shop, museum, exhibits, special events, and children’s activities make visiting Berkeley an educational and fun experience for the entire family.
A Virginia and National Historic Landmark
Photography:
Gary Smith Images
Historical Firsts Await
America’s First Thanksgiving (1619)
The Creation and First Playing of “Taps” (1862)