Tappahannock is older than Richmond, Fredericksburg and even Williamsburg. Captain John Smith landed here in 1608 but was driven back to his ship by the local Indians.
In 1608, this area was first visited by Captain John Smith. The area was inhabited by Native Americans and when Captain Smith attempted to land here, he was fiercely driven back to his ship. It was a Native American village and so he gave both the river and the village Native American names. The river became the Rappahannock, which meant "rise and fall" of water, and the village, set upon it, became Tappahannock, which means "town on the rise and fall of water".
Ship captain Richard Hobbs patented 800 acres here in the early 1660s and the area became known as Hobbs His Hole; "hole" referred to an area of deep water that provided good anchorage. England desired to establish a port of entry and tobacco warehouse in each county and Benjamin Goodrich sold the Crown 50 acres of land for the town site. Town leaders tried changing the name Hobbs Hole to New Plymouth for a few years, but the original name of Tappahannock officially returned in 1705. On and around the water remain thirteen homes and buildings from the early days of the town.
The Town of Tappahannock was established by Act of the Virginia Legislature at James City in 1680. The Town was laid out in half acre squares which still bear the original numbers and its wide and straight streets still retain the original names. To the original 68 lot numbers eight "slip" lots were added to make the Town border on the Rappahannock River. A "Square" bounded by Prince (Main), Church, Queen, and Cross Streets was set aside in 1680 for "the Publick Use" and on this square are located four of the "Landmark" buildings.
Captain John Smith created the first detailed map of the Chesapeake Region. His masterpiece map of Virginia, published in 1612, remained in active use for seven decades and opened this part of North America to European exploration, settlement, and trade. The geographical accuracy is astounding given that Smith traveled about 2500 miles in a series of short expeditions and had only primitive mapmaking tools to work with.
Northern Neck Burger (804) 925-6100
Squirrel's Nest (804) 925-6200
Java Jacks Cafe (804) 443-5225
To Do Cafe (804) 443-2002
Roma Ristorante Italiano (804) 443-5240
Los Portales (804) 443-0132
Bubba's Shrimp Shack (804) 925-6022
Bella Pizza & Italian (804) 443-4912
ACME Ice Cream Parlor (804) 925-6471
China King (804) 443-2999
Asia Cafe (804) 445-9991
Taste of Latin America (804) 384-8112
White Oak Nutrition (804) 647-3883
Applebees (804) 443-0361
Prince Street Cafe (804) 443-2333
528 Prime Steak & Seafood (804) 925-6009
Pizza Hut *COMING SOON*
Wawa *COMING SOON*
The Essex Inn (804) 443-9900
Hampton Inn (804) 445-2599
Holiday Inn (804) 445-1200
Days Inn (804) 443-9200
Super 8 (804) 443-3888
Southside Motel (804) 443-3363
Budget Inn (804) 443-3366
Norwood's (804) 925-6496
Crying Shame (804) 443-0070
ACME Antiques (804) 925-6471
T-Town Tack (804) 443-4614
Acor's Country Store (804) 925-6472
Mums and Bubs (804) 443-4170
Martin Sale Furniture (804) 443-2201
Tappahannock Furniture (804) 443-2811
Pammy's Produce & Country Store (804) 443-2000
Thyme in a Basket (804) 443-4626
Buddy's Home Furnishings (804) 445-2474
Seek N Find Thrift Store (804) 214-1896
Tappahannock Pharmacy (804) 443-3461
Millers Greenhouses (804) 443-3291
Tappahannock Art Gallery (804) 925-1011
Essex County Museum (804) 443-4690
Rappahannock River Park (804) 443-3336
Essex County Public Library (804) 443-4945
The Hanger Vertical Arts (804) 477-4201
Deva Academy (804) 466-4264
Glamper Salon
Elle Esthetics (804) 221-0371
Casey Bolt Massage (804) 761-4119
New Nails (804) 443-2658
Essex Nails
Lovely Nails (804) 443-8323
Queen Nail (804) 443-4537
Essex 5 Cinemas (804) 445-1166
Hobbs Hole Golf Course (804) 443-4500
Rappahannock Roundstern (804) 214-0447
Tara Linsley Photo (804) 580-1108
429 Dock St, Tappahannock, Virginia 22560, United States
Tappahannock became a Designated Main Street Community in Fall of 2020. Connect with the Tappahannock Main Street website to keep up with events happening on Main Street, news regarding Main Street Revitalization and much more.