Hickory Hill

Hickory Hill is a mansion built in Federal style located on a 3,300-acre property in Hanover County north of Richmond. The estate encompasses agricultural fields, various historic outbuildings, and a documented cemetery containing burial sites dating from the early 1800s through the 1930s.

The property began in 1734 when Robert Carter acquired the land and later gave it to his daughter Anne Butler Carter and her husband W.F. Wickham as a wedding gift. The Wickham family shaped the estate over the following generations.

The name reflects the hickory trees that once covered the land abundantly. Today, visitors encounter a place where natural heritage and human history visibly coexist on the grounds.

Access requires advance arrangement and guided tours through local preservation organizations. Plan to reach the site using personal transportation, as it sits in rural surroundings away from public transit.

Detailed personal diaries kept by owner W.F. Wickham between 1828 and 1864 record names and family relationships of enslaved individuals on the property. These rare written accounts offer uncommon insight into lives that are frequently absent from historical records.

Location: Virginia

Architectural style: Federal architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.66500,-79.47750

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20