Berkeley Plantation

VIRGINIA’S MOST HISTORIC PLANTATION

Calendar of Events 2026
Coming Soon

Kid's Day

April 1, 2025

Berkeley invites families to experience eighteenth-century history, explore the gardens and grounds, see our ninth president’s birthplace, and walk the same floors as our founding fathers. Colonial games and children’s activities are available from
11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Admission is free for one child (age 16 and under) with one paying adult.

Admission tickets are purchased upon arrival. 

 

Historic Garden Week Tours

April 27 & 28, 2025

Sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia

Berkeley, Shirley, and Westover Plantations celebrate Historic Garden Week with a special combination ticket which allows access to the extensive grounds, outbuildings, and interiors of all three historic sites. Tour proceeds 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, 2025

During the first week in May, Berkeley will offer a special rate to homeschool students and their families. Enjoy a guided house tour and learn about eighteenth-century life on a plantation. Explore the museum of paintings and artifacts and walk the five terraces of restored gardens leading to the James River. Picnic area available or bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic by the river shore. The rate during this exclusive offer is $10.00 per adult / $6 per student (k-12).

Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.

Summer Events

 

Children's Nature Hunt

June, July, &  August 2025

During the summer months, bring the family to Berkeley and learn its amazing history, while searching for treasures along the river shore, gardens, and grounds. Children’s brochures and picnic area available. Nature hunt included with regular admission tickets.

Summer Fun Kid's Day

June 17 & 28, 2025

Berkeley invites families to experience eighteenth-century history, explore the gardens and grounds, see our ninth president’s birthplace, and walk the same floors as our founding fathers. Colonial games and children’s activities are available from
11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Admission is free for one child (age 16 and under) with one paying adult.

Admission tickets are purchased upon arrival. 

 

The Making of America: Freedom for some -- Exploring the lives and contributions of Berkeley’s enslaved

June 4 & 20, 2025

This all-inclusive tour takes you on a journey across 400 years of enslaver and enslaved history. This 75-minute guided tour
begins at Berkeley’s Enslaved Quarters and continues through the main floor of the 1726 manor house. Hear stories of
individuals who lived and labored at Berkeley to living as free men and women. Following the guided tour, explore the colonial kitchen, museum, and grounds.
The tour begins at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. $24.95 per person. Reservations required.

Purchase Tickets

 

 

 

We look forward to celebrating the 300th anniversary of Berkeley’s 1726 Georgian mansion.  The mansion was built from brick fired on the plantation and sits on a hilltop overlooking the historic James River.  The date of the building and the initials of the owners, Benjamin Harrison IV and his wife, Anne, appear in a datestone over a side door. The mansion is one of the oldest 3-story brick houses in Virginia and the first with a pediment roof. The handsome Adam woodwork and the double arches of the ‘Great Rooms’ were installed by Benjamin Harrison VI at the direction of Thomas Jefferson. The outside walls are 36 inches thick. The roof is slate, and a spacious hall divides the building. There are three floors above the basement with four great rooms on each floor.  Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the first born in the house and lived there until he died in 1791.   
 
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  This historic milestone is an opportunity to stop and reflect on our nation’s past.  It’s a time to educate future generations on the importance of our nation’s history and the contributions made for our independence.