Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation

Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation Sherwood Forest was the home of US President John Tyler from 1842-1862. The
residence was restored in the mid-1970’s by Mr. and Mrs. Harrison R.

National Historic Landmark
National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Historic Landmark

In 1842 President John Tyler (1841-1845), a Charles City County native, purchased a farmhouse
and 900 acres known as “The Grove.” Through the mid-1840’s he amassed additional acreage and added
to the house, creating a 300-foot-long frame residence as the centerpiece of a 1600-acre working estate
befitting a

president. President Tyler retired here with his second wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler, at the end of
his term in office. The Tylers renamed the residence Sherwood Forest in a nod to the President’s status
as an “outlaw” from the Whig party. Generations of the Tyler family have resided at Sherwood Forest since the President’s time. Tyler with the goal of preserving
and sharing family history. Their vision, dedication, and generous support of Sherwood Forest Plantation
Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, has provided for public access to this historic property in
perpetuity. The residence is furnished with family heirlooms, silver, porcelain, paintings, and antique
furniture, some dating to the President’s era. On the 25 acres of grounds you will see dependencies
including a tobacco barn, dairy, smoke house and privy. Centuries-old trees, gardens, and lawn are
features of the park-like setting.

Coming up this weekend! The annual Civil War Reenactment at Fort Pocahontas. Please join us!
06/03/2026

Coming up this weekend! The annual Civil War Reenactment at Fort Pocahontas. Please join us!

Planning a visit to Sherwood Forest? We'd love to welcome you!While you can do the self-guided grounds tour any day of t...
06/03/2026

Planning a visit to Sherwood Forest? We'd love to welcome you!

While you can do the self-guided grounds tour any day of the week, please note that we do not offer daily walk-up house tours. All tours of the residence must be scheduled in advance.

If you're on a Presidential Quest and hoping to tour President John Tyler's home, be sure to contact us before your visit to confirm availability. While we can occasionally accommodate last-minute requests, advance reservations are the best way to ensure you don't miss this unique stop on your journey.

Visit our website to complete a tour request form or email us at [email protected] for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at Sherwood Forest!

Please note that house tours are not available June 3-9, 2026.

Don’t miss this week’s essay on President John Tyler. Christopher Leahy's article discusses Tyler's leadership after th...
04/21/2026

Don’t miss this week’s essay on President John Tyler. Christopher Leahy's article discusses Tyler's leadership after the death of William Henry Harrison. More Perfect is a national initiative presenting weekly lessons from American presidents and first ladies throughout 2026. More info here: inpursuit.substack.com and a link in the comments to the essay on John Tyler.

Have you met Autumn, our kitty sized greeter? She likes to welcome guests to the property. She showed up in one of the g...
04/15/2026

Have you met Autumn, our kitty sized greeter? She likes to welcome guests to the property. She showed up in one of the gardens today while we were taking photos. She had her own little photo shoot.

Azaleas and butterflies, a true sign of spring here at Sherwood Forest. Enjoy the beauty of nature on a self-guided grou...
04/07/2026

Azaleas and butterflies, a true sign of spring here at Sherwood Forest. Enjoy the beauty of nature on a self-guided grounds tour. We are open 9 to 5 daily.
📸
❤️

Sharon and Christopher Leahy discuss the complexities of Julia Gardiner Tyler in a new blog post. Kansas University Pres...
03/31/2026

Sharon and Christopher Leahy discuss the complexities of Julia Gardiner Tyler in a new blog post. Kansas University Press is publishing their new book "Presidentess: The Life of Julia Gardiner Tyler" this fall. Read more in the attached post which includes links to the blog post and preorder for the book.

Women’s History Month provides an opportune time to delve into the life of a woman who has been overshadowed by more prominent and longer-serving first ladies. Read more of Sharon and Christopher Leahy's blog entitled "Julia Gardiner Tyler: More Substance than People Realize" https://kansaspress.ku.edu/blog/2026/03/27/julia-gardiner-tyler/

Learn more about the book Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler, and preorder your copy today https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700642670/

History in Two Voices

OTD March 29, 1790. President Tyler was born at Greenway in Charles City County Virginia. The house still stands, but it...
03/30/2026

OTD March 29, 1790. President Tyler was born at Greenway in Charles City County Virginia. The house still stands, but it’s privately owned.

Sherwood Forest will be closed for a private event this weekend.
03/25/2026

Sherwood Forest will be closed for a private event this weekend.

03/12/2026
03/12/2026

90 degrees yesterday. Current situation.

Address

14501 John Tyler Memorial Highway
Charles City, VA
23030

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(804) 829-5377

Website

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