Tobacco Row
The area in Richmond known as Tobacco Row has been the site of tobacco warehouses and manufacturing since long before the Civil War. Beginning in the 1600s, after Virginia tobacco became popular in Europe, planters and shippers maintained facilities here. Tobacco was Virginia’s most valuable export. The substantial buildings you see along Dock Street date from 1886 to 1929. They were constructed of brick to protect the contents from loss due to fire. By the late 1980s, however, most of the tobacco companies had moved elsewhere. After the James River Flood Wall was built in 1995, many of the old warehouses were converted into apartments and retail space.
[key to Tobacco Row map]
1900 E Cary, Philip Morris building
Built 1893-1927, Philip Morris cigarette factory until about 1990
2800 E Cary, Climax warehouse
Built 1899, American Tobacco leaf storage
2100 E Cary, Edgeworth building
Larus & Brother Company (1921-25); later Edgeworth pipe tobacco factory. In 1925, WRVA radio began broadcasting from a studio in the warehouse
2200 E Cary, Carolina warehouse
Built 1900, American Tobacco; later P. Lorillard leaf storage
2201 E Cary, Consolidated Cigar building
P. Lorillard cigar factory (1926); later Consolidated Cigar
2300 E Cary, Whitlock building
Whitlock branch cigar factory (ca. 1903) of American Tobacco; later P. Lorillard; then Philip Morris leaf storage
2400 E Cary, Cameron building
Cameron & Co. smoking tobacco factory (ca. 1885); later American Tobacco leaf department
2500 E Cary, Kinney building
Kinney & Co. (ca. 1885), by 1893 Allen & Ginter branch of American Tobacco; after 1911, American Tobacco stemmery and cigarette factory until 1980s
2600 E Cary, Lucky Strike building
Built 1929-30, American Tobacco cigarette factory made Lucky Strike and Pall Mall brands until 1981
Marker is on Dock Street 0.1 miles west of Pear Street, on the left when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
