This private tour picks you up from your hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia to visit Berkeley Plantation. Berkeley’s 1726 Georgian mansion is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison V, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and also the birthplace of William Henry Harrison, 9th president of the United States, and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president. During the Civil War, Berkeley was occupied by General McClellan’s troops. While at Berkeley, General Butterfield composed the familiar tune “Taps”, played by his bugler.
We will explore the Native American, Colonial and Civil War artifacts, along with historical paintings and exhibits in the 18th century basement museum. The tour offers a close look at the site's architecture and surroundings, giving a clear picture of life in that era. The kitchen dependency and reconstructed slave quarters tell the story of the enslaved workers at Berkeley. Grounds include five terraces leading to the banks of the James River.