"Gateway to the Northern Neck" Tappahannock by b1bob

Tappahannock Travel Guide: 15 reviews and 28 photos

Captain John Smith, one of the original tourists to the area, visited Essex during the winter of 1607-08. On his first visit he did not linger a lot. While he was trying to disembark near what is now the county seat of Tappahannock, the Indians drove him back to his ship. The British settlers eventually established counties on both sides of the Rappahannock River. In 1645, Bartholomew Hoskins patented the Tappahannock site, which became known, at various times as Hobb's Hole, the short-lived New Plymouth, and the Indian name Tappahannock. The port town was to become a centre of commerce during the 17th and 18th centuries establishing a crossroads. Colonial charm is evident in the architecture of private homes and businesses in the old town area. Street names such as Marsh, Queen, Prince, Duke, Cross, Church, and Water are original. In 1705, the town was once again known by its Indian name of Tappahannock meaning "town on the rise and fall of water." One of the first signs of rebellion against British rule happened here. Leading merchant Archibald Ritchie, who supported the Stamp Act, was labeled as "the greatest enemy of his country." In 1766, gentlemen from nine counties gathered at Leedstown to draft the "Resolutions" that led Virginians to disobey Parliament. The lifeline for local watermen, the river is also a draw for the many weekend visitors from Richmond and the Washington DC area. Every June, Tappahannock hosts the Rivahfest which pays tribute to the Rappahannock River which sustains life as they know it here.

en español, em português, en français

Pros and Cons

Pros:Tappahannock still holds to its sense of history and small-town values.
Cons:The traffic can get congested at the weekend and it's sometimes hard to find a parking slot.
In a nutshell:A friendly small town along the Rappahannock River.

Last visit to Tappahannock: Sep 2006
Intro Updated Jul 6, 2007
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Reviews (10)

one of many antique stores - Tappahannock

Shop 'til you drop Things to Do (6)

For those who use the word antique as a verb, Tappahannock is the town for you. There are some nice stores scattered... more travel advice

St. John's Episcopal Church - Tappahannock

St. John's Episcopal Church Things to Do (6)

St. John's Episcopal Church, built in 1849 under direction of Rev. John Peyton McGuire, is the only purely Gothic... more travel advice

St. Margaret's School Things to Do (6)

This house is now the center part of a much larger building, as school wings were added on each end in the 1920s; but... more travel advice

Northern Neck Off The Beaten Path (1)

Tappahannock is known as the gateway to the Northern Neck. In many ways, Tappahannock has more in common with the... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Lowery's
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Comments (15)

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Bushman23 Jan 15, 2011 at 5:15 PM

excellent page Nat, about an interesting town - seems steeped in history. Warsaw is a stange name for a town/village in the States :p
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MikeAtSea Jul 12, 2009 at 7:45 AM

Great page!! Michael
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ATXtraveler Nov 2, 2008 at 12:42 PM

This looks like a nice little town.
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volopolo Apr 14, 2008 at 8:51 AM

Another excellent web site!
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KiKitC Apr 5, 2008 at 5:48 PM

Antique shops in an antique town...sounds like a jolly "old" time. Great tips...thanks you.
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starship Oct 26, 2007 at 6:55 AM

Being from Hampton, Virginia myself, I really liked this page! It's interesting you mention names like 'Ware' & 'Trible', both names I connect with my hometown and nearby.
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Leipzig Aug 7, 2007 at 9:45 AM

Brilliant page, Nat! Brings back great memories
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mafootje Jul 29, 2007 at 11:54 AM

Nice photo composition !
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richiecdisc Jul 9, 2007 at 3:53 PM

Small Town, USA: on one does it better. Rivafest sounds like fun and great when VTers bring us to places in our own area that we've not been!
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belgianchocolate May 18, 2007 at 3:58 PM

Ages ago that I visited a page of yours Nat , shame on me. Your an excellent page builder. frank.