Experience the 124 acres that comprise the battlefield by walking the 1.8 mile trail around the property. Owned by the National Park Service, the park is dog friendly for pets on leashes and open dawn to dusk daily. The beautiful scenery of Totopotomoy Creek and preserved earthworks from the Civil War battle fought in 1864 can be viewed from the trail.
The Shelton House is typically open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the spring and fall each year. Tours are conducted entirely by volunteers who are passionate about Rural Plains and the local history.
Exact times can be found on our
Facebook page.
The house is over 300 years old and remained in the Shelton family until it was acquired by the National Park Service in 2006. It shares both Revolutionary and Civil War history. As the ancestral home of Patrick Henry’s first wife, Sarah Shelton, and later struck by over 50 artillery shells during the Civil War Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, the Shelton House is a unique part of Hanover County's history. The park is open year-round to visitors.
