About

The Reynolds Homestead, also known as Rock Spring Plantation, is a slave plantation turned historical site. First developed in 1814 by slaveowner Abram Reynolds, it was the primary home of R.J. Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and the first major marketer of the cigarette. Upon liberation of the plantation in 1863, 88 people were freed from captivity and enslavement. The homestead is currently an outreach facility of Virginia Tech, serving as a regional cultural center, and the house is open for tours.