In its present form, North Bend is among Charles City County’s few examples of builder’s Greek Revival. The original portion was built in 1819 for John Minge, member of one of the county’s landed families. In 1843 North Bend was acquired by Thomas H. Wilcox, who in 1853-55 transformed the vernacular dwelling into a double-pile Greek Revival-style plantation house, using decorative details based on designs in Asher Benjamin’s architectural pattern books. Some of the woodwork retains original painted wood graining and marbleizing. Although updated with the remodeling, the five-bay, hipped-roof scheme maintained a traditional Georgian format. In 1865 North Bend was used as headquarters of Union Gen. Philip Sheridan before his 30,000 men crossed the James River to join the siege of Petersburg. Included on the North Bend plantation are several interesting farm buildings, including an early dairy and smokehouse.