Marvel at the world’s oldest ham, which is more than 124 years old, in Smithfield, Virginia.
Smithfield in Isle of Wight County has long been associated with ham. In fact, in 1926, the Virginia General Assembly stipulated that the term “genuine Smithfield ham” could only be used to market hams produced from peanut-fed hogs cured within town limits. The area is also known for its robust peanut harvests.
Despite the legislation, counterfeit hams flooded the market because of how in demand “genuine Smithfield ham” was at the time. To help ensure authenticity, genuine hams were branded or stamped.
The town, which is often referred to as the ham capital of the world, is also known as the home to the world’s oldest ham. Here’s everything you need to know about the 124-year-old ham, including where to see it.
About the world’s oldest ham
The ham earned its status as the world’s oldest ham by accident. After being prepared in 1902 by P.D. Gwaltney Jr., it was overlooked in a packing house for 20 years.
After being discovered, the ham started its humorous rise to fame. Starting in 1924, it was housed in an iron safe, which was opened daily for spectators to marvel at. It was at this time that it started being advertised as the world’s oldest Smithfield ham.
Gwaltney leaned into the joke by placing a brass collar around the ham and showing it off at expositions, declaring it was representative of the strength of his smoking preservation methods.
Since that time, the ham has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! three times, including in 1929, 1932, and 2003.
Where to see it
The ham is currently on display at the Isle of Wight County Museum, where you’ll also find a life-size replica smokehouse at 103 Main St. in Smithfield, Virginia. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission costs $2 for adults and is free for those 17 and under.
The museum also has a piece of the world’s largest ham biscuit on display. The biscuit was made in 2002 by the town of Smithfield and Smithfield Foods to celebrate the town’s 250th anniversary. Since the town was known as being home to the world’s oldest ham, the idea was to create another record-breaking product.
Additional noteworthy ham products on display at the museum include the world’s largest ham and the last “genuine Smithfield ham.” The largest ham was cured in 1955. The 65-pound ham came from a 900-pound hog at a Richmond-based subsidiary of Smithfield Packing. The last “genuine Smithfield ham” was cured in 2024 when Smithfield Foods ceased production of its Genuine Smithfield Ham line.
Made from more than 500 pounds of ham, the biscuit was so large it had to be cooked in a specially made outdoor oven. It was certified as the world’s largest ham biscuit by Guinness World Records.
If you can’t make it to the museum, you can still marvel at the world’s oldest ham by checking out the “Ham Cam,” a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week live feed. On the live feed, the ham in the center of the display case is the world’s oldest ham.
The museum also filmed an oral history segment about another local ham producer, Sam W. Edwards III, that’s worth checking out.
Where to taste Smithfield ham
While in the area, you might also consider sampling some ham products at Taste of Smithfield or visiting local ham producers Darden’s Country Store and Creekside Smokehouse.
Taste of Smithfield
Location: 217 Main St., Smithfield, VA 23430
You can also sample some of the town’s finest pork options at Taste of Smithfield, a restaurant that knows how Southern cuisine should taste.
Start with a round of country ham biscuits. The sweet potato biscuits come with apple butter, country ham, and molasses. Then, decide between the hand-cut pork chop, carver ham, or pork tenderloin entrees. Add a side of hog fries, smoked pulled pork, bacon, pickled onions, and queso. Wash it all down with some WhistlePig rye.
Be sure to stop by the adjoining store to get a pig-related souvenir or some packaged Smithfield ham, like a pack of sugar-cured country ham biscuit slices or a spiral sliced hickory smoked ham.
Darden’s Country Store
Location: 16249 Bowling Green Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430
Darden’s Country Store is a Smithfield icon, having been in business since 1952. The Darden family takes pride in working with each individual ham until it’s properly salted and smoked. They produce about 1,000 18-25-pound hams every year.
You can purchase a ham to take with you or enjoy some sausage or ham on the spot. Be sure to ask about how the hams are cured.
Creekside Smokehouse
Location: 284 Woodcreek Pl., Surry, VA 23883
Located in Surry County, Creekside Smokehouse specializes in smoked ham products.
The business was started by Dale Fuss in 2006 after she built a smokehouse and asked her father to pass down the family legacy of curing hams to her. Although she only smoked a modest six hams in her first year, the business has since expanded to the point that hundreds of hams are produced yearly.
It offers a whole cooked and sliced ham for $120, as well as 1-pound packages of sliced ham for $14. A pound of smoked sausage links will cost you $8. You can also get 2 pounds of ground sausage for $8.
Nearby attractions
Visit a number of pork-related attractions, like the Porcine Parade, Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, and Bacon’s Castle.
Porcine Parade
While downtown, get pictures with all nine life-size statues in the Porcine Parade. The market hog statues have been painted by various local artists to depict different components of the town’s history and culture.
Pick up a brochure with a map at the Visitor Center so you don’t miss one.
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
Spend the afternoon in the 3,908-acre Hog Island Wildlife Management Area in Surry and Isle of Wight counties.
Although the area isn’t currently home to any hogs, it earned its name in the 17th century when English settlers set hogs free on the tip of the James River peninsula to forage.
Today, you’ll see thousands of waterfowl that flock to the area to forage and rest on the tidal marshes. Look for the wildlife viewing platforms.
Bacon’s Castle
Location: 465 Bacon’s Castle Trl., Surry, VA 23883
Although it doesn’t have a clear connection to the area’s ham heritage, Bacon’s Castle does have the word “bacon” in it and has a smokehouse on the grounds.
Originally known as Allen’s Brick House, having been named after its builder, Arthur Allen, the structure was renamed in 1676 after Nathaniel Bacon’s men occupied it for four months during Bacon’s Rebellion.
The High Jacobean structure is notable given it’s the oldest brick dwelling in North America. Additional structures include an 1830 slave dwelling and a 1701 barn. Be sure to also look for the 1820s smokehouse.
Both guided interior and self-guided exterior tours are offered. You can visit Bacon’s Castle Thursday through Sunday with general admission tickets costing $15.
