fort boykin

Winding roads take you to a small rocky parking lot accompanied with a picnic shelter. At first glance there is nothing special about this site but once you read the map and enter into the grounds, with a little imagination, the magic this place holds comes to life. Some structures have been lost to fire but with it's beach access and overlooks it is a lovely place to visit. Also it has restrooms which is always a plus :)

Small but scenic, restrooms available, good area for landscape photography, original earthworks can still be seen, picnic area, access to James River beach with fossils of sea creatures and sharks teeth, mostly broken, embedded!

I'm not sure what we were expecting, but this wasn't the history experience we were hoping for. We couldn't find any of the markers that were supposed to be there, even with following a photo I took of both the map and the markers before setting off. Additionally, the mosquitos were horrendous; as soon as we stepped out of the car, they began biting. We had to cut the visit short.

This was something off the beaten path, tucked into a suburban neighborhood, and absolutely crammed with history. Having seen action as a post in the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War this is a rare find. The earthen works are still there and in good shape, nice path and the debri from a blown powder magazine still litter the ground. The bay kisses the side of this fort and provides for an amazing view. This is a sweet find and one that took some research. Go see for yourself on your next trip to Smithfield and you will appreciate the detour.Happy Travels!

Don't expect to see much of a fort. The house in the former fort just recently had a fire and looks pretty bad. The views of the river are great but it is a long drive down a gravel road.

Fort Boykin was our first stop on the southern shore of the James River after we crossed over on the ferry from Jamestown. Having visited numerous historic forts over the years, this one did not live up to the description we read in a brochure we had picked up. Frankly, it was very difficult to see yourself as being in a fort (or former fort that is) once you were there. The views are somewhat limited and the condition of the grounds was average at best. It does seem to have a lot of potential though, but is going to need some serious investment to realize that potential. I'd bypass it and just visit downtown Smithfield which was lovely.