Porto Bello

Porto Bello is a two-story brick dwelling from Virginia's colonial period located in York County near Queens Creek. The property includes the main residence along with a kitchen building and several storage structures arranged across the grounds.

The property came into possession of John Murray, the fourth Earl of Dunmore and last royal governor under the British Crown, in 1773 during the eve of the American Revolution. A major fire in 1915 prompted extensive repairs that substantially altered its original architectural character.

The name Porto Bello references a famous colonial port in Panama, reflecting how European traders and governors connected distant colonial territories through maritime networks. This naming choice shows how those who built grand homes in Virginia looked beyond local horizons to places of international trade and power.

The site sits within the secured grounds of Camp Peary Military Reservation and remains inaccessible to visitors due to military operations. Those interested in learning about this colonial dwelling can consult historical records and documentation from Virginia's heritage organizations.

The name Porto Bello refers to a famous port in colonial Panama, showing how Virginia's colonial elite named their estates after distant centers of international trade. This naming pattern reveals the worldview of those who built grand homes while connected to a much larger empire of commerce and influence.