Charles City: Courthouse History and Virginia Capital Trail

Two distinct themes stand out when exploring Charles City: the history of the Charles City County Courthouse and the Virginia Capital Trail. They appeal to different interests: on one hand are the construction period, arcades, and long-standing use of a historic courthouse; on the other is a trail section used by a variety of groups. You can plan your trip around what interests you most.

Courthouse, Arcades, and History

The Charles City County Courthouse was built in the 1750s and stands next to the Charles City County Visitor Center. It is one of six surviving colonial courthouses in Virginia with arcades. An arcade is a series of arches, so the term points to a specific architectural feature as well as the building’s age. After nearly three centuries, the courthouse still serves its original purpose. Its construction period, architectural classification, and continued use together make it a historical focal point that goes beyond a single construction date.

Visitor Center and Historical Topics

The Charles City County Visitor Center is located in the county’s historic 1901 Clerk’s Office. It features four outdoor interpretive installations. They cover the history of the historic courthouse and military conflicts that took place there during the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. This brings the history of the building and conflicts at the site together as distinct topics.

As of September 6, 2026, the Charles City County Visitor Center was closed for renovations. Check before your visit to see whether its status has changed.

The Virginia Capital Trail and Regional Context

The Virginia Capital Trail offers a different focus. An eight-mile section runs from the Charles City Courthouse to VCU’s Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences. The trail can be used by cyclists, runners, walkers, skateboarders, and people with dogs. Cycling is therefore not the only listed way to use the trail; other forms of travel are included as well.

Regionally, Charles City County lies between Williamsburg and Richmond, along the Route 5 Scenic Byway and the Virginia Capital Trail. This places Charles City County between Williamsburg and Richmond in its regional context. For trip planning, you can distinguish the county’s regional setting from the specific historical and active pursuits available during your stay.

Another Way to Explore Local History

The county’s history resources also include the Richard M. Bowman Center for Local History, a reference library and archive. Its function differs from that of the Visitor Center’s four outdoor interpretive installations: here, the focus is on library and archive services.

For an overview of the wider area: Charles City County.