Peter Jones Trading Station

Petersburg's history dates from 1645 when the colonial legislature at Jamestown Virginia ordered a fort built at the falls of Appomattox River, which came to be known as Fort Henry. Major-General Abraham Wood, commander of the fort, established a trading station to serve explorers for western expeditions and himself completed three exploratory expeditions from Fort Henry, venturing to the falls of the Roanoke River near the Caroline line, across the Appalachian Mountains, and into Cherokee Indian country, helping pave the way for settlement of the mid-west. By 1675, Peter Jones was operating the prosperous trading station, to which the growing population referred as “Peter's Point”. The name of the Town of Petersburg evolved from “Peter's Point”. (Today the ruins of the trading station can still be seen and visited, thanks to the preservation efforts of HPF.) Petersburg has survived three major wars: the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and as some would still say, the “War of Northern Aggression” also known as the American Civil War.

WORKING IN PETERSBURG FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS…

In 1967, a group of local preservationists, including the Mayor of Petersburg, the President of the Fort Henry branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and the Vice President of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, formed Historic Petersburg Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Historic Petersburg Foundation, Inc. (HPF) received its charter as a nonprofit organization on September 22, 1967. One of the first tasks was to prepare the first architectural survey of historic buildings in the city. This survey established the basis for more detailed surveys needed to designate local historic districts in Petersburg. HPF’s preservation success stories include saving small cottages, grand homes and commercial buildings.



Historic Petersburg: Virginia's Best Kept Secret. Video provided courtesy of VSU Today.

"Just down the hill from Virginia State University lies one of the true treasures of the Commonwealth (of Virginia). Petersburg is a centuries old city that has survived so much, but its majestic homes stand proud to tell its history..."

Peter Jones Trading Station Today

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Petersburg is a Diamond in the Rough, nestled into the south of Richmond on your way down to Emporia and North Carolina. We think we're a pretty cool town, so come on by and check us out and see for yourself!