Whitehurst-Buffington House
Whitehurst-Buffington House is a attraction in Kempsville, Virginia Beach, best for colonial and Civil War history fans, a quiet Historic Kempsville stop, pairing with the Princess Anne County Courthouse Village.
Built in 1793 by the Whitehurst family — a year after the first Cape Henry Lighthouse went up — this saltbox farmhouse sits directly across from the old Princess Anne County Courthouse in the heart of Historic Kempsville. Its distinctive roofline (a short gambrel in front, a long sloping catslide in back) and twin end chimneys mark it as one of the city's 50 most historically significant structures. The house passed through generations of Whitehursts, including Confederate soldier James Howard Whitehurst, before later owners George Bratten and Jay Buffington added brick siding and modern conveniences in the 20th century — layers the all-volunteer Whitehurst-Buffington House Foundation now interprets as 'a house over time.' Open for tours Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1-4pm; suggested donation $5 adults, $4 seniors/military, $3 students.
- Hidden Gem
Amenities
- Docent-led tours
- Original 18th-century farmhouse architecture
- Rotating local-history displays
Know Before You Go
- Best for: colonial and Civil War history fans, a quiet Historic Kempsville stop, pairing with the Princess Anne County Courthouse Village
- Parking: On-site parking in the Historic Kempsville Courthouse area off North Landing Road.
- Accessibility: Historic c.1793 farmhouse with period stairs and thresholds; contact the Foundation for current accessibility details.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 2441 N Landing Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, in the Historic Kempsville Courthouse area, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-10.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Autumn in the Air
November 7, 2026 · annual
A newer addition to the city's Parks & Recreation calendar, this single-day fall festival takes over Mount Trashmore Park with folk, americana, and rock bands on an outdoor stage, food and drink for purchase, and activities scattered across the lakefront lawn. Now in its third year, it's grown into the city's answer to a proper autumn street festival without the Oceanfront crowds -- bring a lawn chair or blanket, since tents and large coolers aren't allowed in the event area. Free admission and parking make it an easy afternoon add for anyone already in Kempsville.
Mount Trashmore July 4th Celebration
July 4, 2027 · annual
Virginia Beach's inland Independence Day tradition fills Mount Trashmore Park -- the converted landfill hill that gives the park its name -- with live music, food trucks, and family activities before a fireworks show over the lake at 9:30pm. It's the free, low-key alternative to the Oceanfront's Stars & Stripes Celebration the same night, drawing families from the Kempsville and Town Center side of the city who'd rather skip beach traffic. Free admission and free parking, with the park's grassy hill doubling as a natural amphitheater for the fireworks.
Town Center Summer Fest Music Series
May 22, 2026 – September 7, 2026 · seasonal (nightly concerts, late May-early September)
The Central Business District Association's free concert series takes over Town Center's Fountain Plaza most nights from late May through early September, with cover bands, tribute acts, and local musicians playing against the backdrop of the plaza's high-rises. Restaurants ringing the plaza put out sidewalk seating within earshot of the stage, turning a weeknight downtown into an impromptu outdoor show. It's the closest thing Virginia Beach's inland downtown has to the Oceanfront's summer concert culture -- free, walkable, and parked in the Town Center garages rather than beach lots.