Editing Gloucester County, Virginia (section)

=== Plantations and historic sites ===
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Gloucester was developed as a major [[tobacco]]-producing area; this was the chief commodity crop and the basis of the wealth of major planters. Many of the old [[Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States#Plantation house|plantation houses]] and private estates have been preserved in good condition. These establishments are periodically open to public visitation during Historic Garden Week. Examples of colonial architecture are the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal churches]] of Ware (1690) and Abingdon (1755), where Presidents Washington and Jefferson worshiped. Some early colonial buildings at the county seat on Courthouse Green continue to be used for public purposes.[[File:Mann Page I Founder of the Present Rosewell Mansion 1725.png|thumb|left|175px|Mann Page I, builder of [[Rosewell (plantation)|Rosewell]]|alt=Old drawing of small child with bird]]
During the 17th century, the tip of land protruding into the [[York River (Virginia)|York River]] was named Tyndall's Point by [[Robert Tyndall]], mapmaker for [[John Smith of Jamestown|Captain John Smith]]. In 1667, colonists built fortifications there, at what was then called Gloucester Point. These defenses were rebuilt and strengthened many times from the colonial period through the [[American Civil War]]. This site is also known for the "Second Surrender" by General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Charles Cornwallis]] to General [[George Washington]] at Yorktown.

[[File:Abingdon Episcopal Church.JPG|thumb|175px|Abingdon Episcopal Church.]]