Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 09/20/2012
NRHP Listing Date 11/28/2012
NRHP Reference Number 12000986
The Collins Ferry Historic District arose on the Staunton River in Halifax County beginning in the early 1800s when William Collins established a ferry, mill, and tavern, during an era when tobacco ruled Southside Virginia’s economy. Covering about 768 acres of forest and farmland in the northern part of the county, the district includes 18 historic buildings or sites, divided between two distinct farmsteads that were once tobacco plantations. Collins built his plantation house, known as Collins Ferry, around 1810 (pictured above). At the time of its listing, it was one of the county’s best-preserved Federal-style plantation homes. McHaney Hubbard built his Greek Revival-style plantation house in 1856. Additionally, the Collins Ferry Historic District contains tobacco barns and other agricultural buildings, two cemeteries, a quarry site, the mill and ferry sites, and the ruins of a slave quarters. The ferry across the Staunton River into Campbell County ceased operation in the early 20th century.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: December 10, 2021
