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Voices of Civil Rights

        Fort Christanna, the first foothold of the white man in what is now Brunswick County, Virginia, was erected in 1714 during Alexander Spotswood's administration as Royal Governor.  In August 1714, by authority of the General Assembly, Governor Spotswood established Fort Christanna on the rising ground above the banks of the southside of the Meherrin River.   The fort was named in honor of Christ and Queen Anne, the English Queen.

        The purpose for the establishment of Fort Christanna was education, religion, commerce and military.

        Governor Spotswood appointed the Reverend Charles Griffin as schoolmaster to educate and christianize the Indian children in the first Christian Indian School in Virginia.

        November 16, 1714, at the request of Governor Spotswood, the General Assembly passed an "Act for the better regulation of the Indian trade."

        March 1715, Governor Spotswood traveled to the location of the fort.  On this trip, he completed the building of the fort itself.  Now the frontier was protected from unfriendly Indians.

        May 22, 1924, the Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia, marked the site of Fort Christanna with the education of a monument to Brunswick County with the hope that it may be a source of patriotic pride and interest to generations to come, and keep alive a proper appreciation of heroes of colonial days to whom the country owes so much.

        1979-1981.  Dr. Mary C. Beaudrz conducted an archaeological "dig" at Fort Christanna under the sponsorship of the Brunswick Historical Society.  Many items and illustrations from the "dig" can be seen at the Brunswick County Museum located on the Courthouse Square in Lawrenceville, VA.

        Fort Christanna is located about two miles south of Lawrenceville, off Route 46/ Christanna Highway on Fort Hill Road.

Contributed by: Van Doyle, educator of Virginia History and citizen of Brunswick County.

For more information contact the Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Office:

1-866-783-9768