The Seven Islands Archaeological and Historic District is located near the confluence of the James and Slate rivers in Buckingham and Fluvanna counties. This plantation site contains both prehistoric and historic components. A large Woodland-period site (A.D. 900-1600), reflecting use of a riverine environment, is the principal prehistoric feature. Five other archaeological sites, located in upland settings, trace the more diffuse adaptive use of the land mostly during the Archaic period (8000-1000 B.C.). The primary historic structure is a plain Greek Revival dwelling erected ca. 1847 for John Scott Nicholas III on the site of a colonial house built by his grandfather. During the Civil War the Seven Islands plantation supplied wheat, cattle, and horses (including J.E.B. Stuart’s large black mount) to the Confederate government. Confederate wounded also were cared for here. To temper economic hardship following the war, the family established a school known as Seven Islands Academy and erected a wing for dormitory space.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia