You probably learned in elementary school that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Plymouth, Mass., in 1621. A fact not as well known is that two years earlier, on Dec. 4, 1619, in Virginia, the first official Thanksgiving was proclaimed when Captain John Woodlief and 37 men arrived from England at what is now known as Berkeley Plantation. In accordance with instructions from the Berkeley Company, which owned the land, they held a short religious ceremony, reading a proclamation stating that their arrival date would be “yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

The Virginia Thanksgiving Festival was founded in 1958 at Berkeley Plantation to commemorate this 1619 event. It is held the first Sunday in November at the plantation, located between Richmond and Williamsburg, Va.

Thanksgiving festival activities

This year’s celebration occurs Nov. 4 from 12 to 5 p.m. on the plantation’s spacious lawn. Activities include a re-enactment of the 1619 landing by the Fort Lee Colonial Players and a reading of the proclamation by Richmond radio personality Bill Bevins. The Chickahominy Indian Redman Dancers will talk about their history and their connection to the early settlers and lead everyone in a friendship dance. Other activities include traditional colonial games for the kids; readings from a new children’s book by Norfolk, Va., author, Lisa Suhay; and a keynote address from Gov. Gerald Baliles (Virginia’s governor from 1986 to 1990). Food will be available for purchase, and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

A visit to Berkeley Plantation

Thanksgiving is not the only time to visit the Berkeley Plantation. If in your busy rush-a-day life, you have forgotten the feeling of peace and serenity — or think you will never find them again — the plantation awaits you. Peace and serenity will sneak up on you when you least expect them — maybe as you are meandering through the plantation’s five terraced gardens, surrounded by the sounds of birds and the lapping of the James River on the shore.

As you begin your visit, you might feel rushed to see everything — to move quickly to the next item on your list. But suddenly you will slow down, take a deep breath, actually see the beauty of the magnificent magnolias and tall pines, feel the breeze, and be dazzled by the view of the James River. In this altered state, you will be able to take in all that Berkeley Plantation is and has been for the past several hundred years.

After strolling the grounds, you might take a guided tour of the plantation house, which was built in 1726. The tour begins with a short film describing the various events that have taken place there. You’ll learn about the ninth president of the United States, William Henry Harrison, who was born in the house, and about his grandson, 23rd president Benjamin Harrison. Your guide will also tell you about some of the tragic history of the plantation, such as the 1622 Indian massacre that wiped out all but one person, a young boy. You can learn what happened to him during your visit. Another tragic event was the death of Benjamin Harrison IV, father of Benjamin V (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), who was killed by lightning as he was closing shutters against a storm. 

You will learn about the “firsts” that occurred at the plantation. It was the first commercial shipyard, distillers created the first bourbon whiskey here, “Taps” was composed here and played for the first time and the first 10 presidents visited the plantation.

You will be told of the prophecy of the brother of the Shawnee chieftan Tecumseh, which not only predicted that William Henry Harrison would become president and would die before his term was finished but also that every president elected every 20 years thereafter would die in office. The prophecy would prove to be true until the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan (first elected in 1980) failed. (The last president to die in office was John F. Kennedy, who was elected in 1960.)

Your guide will reveal facts about the Civil War and how the house and the land played a role in that war. A descendant of the drummer boy for Union commander George McClellan’s forces, who occupied the house and lands during the Civil War, is now the owner of the plantation.  Civil War bullets and other war items can be seen on display in the plantation museum, located in the basement of the house. There are surprising and fun facts waiting to be discovered at the Berkeley Plantation. You will feel history there.

For information, visit www.berkeleyplantation.com or call 804-829-6018 or 1-888-466-6018.