This Day in Henrico History: Sept. 17 – Henrico opens its first Tourist Information Center

On Sept. 17, 2010, Henrico County opened its first tourist information center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at historic Dabbs House, 3812 Nine Mile Road.

The center opened as Henrico prepared to celebrate its 400th anniversary the following year. It offered information about county events, historical sites, cultural attractions and other destinations, along with more than 75 maps, guides and brochures from throughout Virginia.

It became one of 61 certified visitor centers operating statewide at the time and continues to operate as a tourist information center today.

The location itself carried centuries of history. Built in the 1820s and originally known as High Meadow, Dabbs House served as Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's field headquarters during part of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Henrico purchased the property in 1883 for use as an almshouse, and it later served as the county's police headquarters for 64 years before being converted into a museum.

The opening of the tourist information center remains listed on Henrico County's official historical timeline.

Sources: Henrico County government archives and Henrico County's historical milestones.