One thing you might not immediately think of being synonymous with Virginia is the oldest ham in the world. And yet, here we are. Located in the small town of Smithfield, Virginia, travelers will find a nearly 120-year-old piece of pork with a wild and wacky history. Not only is this piece of ham dubbed the oldest in the world, but it was also made a "pet" by a gentleman named Pembroke D. Gwaltney Jr. If that doesn't spark your interest...
Smithfield, Virginia, prides itself on three things: ham, history, and hospitality!
This historic town in Isle of Wight County has a history that dates back to incorporation in 1752. You might have heard the name Smithfield before, thanks to the large pork producer Smithfield Foods, headquartered in town!
One of the places where you can learn all about that history is the Isle of Wight County Museum! And tucked away inside this museum is none other than the world’s oldest edible ham. How’s that for a claim to fame?
This 120-year-old ham was cured in 1902 by the Gwaltney Foods meat company before being lost in storage for over two decades.
Eventually, the ham was found by Pembroke D. Gwaltney Jr., who put a brass collar on the ham and paraded it around town as his pet!
Microbiologists have claimed that the ham is still edible even after a century thanks to the dry curing process, which salts the meat and drains the blood. However, nobody is in a rush to get a taste.
Visitors to the museum can snag a look at the ham artifact, which is housed in a climate-controlled supply case with two other hams - one of which is supposedly the largest in the world!
But in case you can’t make it to the museum any time soon to lay eyes on this historic hunk of meat, you can check out the museum’s ham cam, which hosts a live feed of the oldest ham in the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Curious to learn more about visiting Smithfield? Feel free to watch the brief video below, courtesy of Coastal Virginia, and see if you aren't tempted to plan your visit soon.
So, what do you think about the world’s oldest edible ham in Virginia? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section -- we would love to hear from you. Or, if you want to take a trip to visit this old hunk of meat, you can head on over to the Isle of Wight County Museum! If you need the perfect home base for exploring all that this delightful region of Virginia has to offer, be sure to check out these unique vacation homes in Smithfield, Virginia.
Also, check out the world’s largest star is also in Virginia! It's a true state landmark.
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