Guided tours of Gloucester Colonial Courthouse Circle available weekends

History is stepping into the spotlight in Gloucester County. For the first time, visitors can experience guided tours of the county’s colonial courthouse circle—now available on weekends through Gloucester County Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

This new program brings the stories of Main Street’s most treasured landmarks to life with engaging narration, fascinating facts, and a personal touch. Guided tours offer visitors a deeper, richer understanding of the people, events, and architecture that shaped Gloucester’s past—while adding a fresh draw for tourism in the heart of the Main Street village, a release said.

Guests will discover the history behind six significant buildings: Colonial Courthouse 1766, Debtors Prison 1820, County Jail 1873, Clerk of the Courts Clayton Building 1823, Clerk of the Courts Roane Building 1896, and Court Annex Building 1956. Additional points of interest include the Werowocomoco exhibit, Botetourt Building, Lemon Lane, Lawyer’s Row, and dedicated memorials.

Tourism ambassadors will greet visitors inside the Colonial Courthouse—no appointment necessary—to share tales spanning centuries. While the interiors of these buildings are not open for walk-throughs, guides bring them to life through vivid storytelling, covering topics from Native American heritage and the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, Civil Rights movement, and the Great Depression.

Guided courthouse tours are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Gloucester Museum of History is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

If you prefer to explore on your own, a self-guided walking tour brochure is available at the Gloucester Visitor Center or online at visitgloucesterva.gov.

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