Smithfield, Virginia -
World's Oldest Edible Cured Ham

World's Oldest Ham

We stopped in to see the Isle of Wight Museum, which includes the infamous "World's Oldest Ham" and also the "World's Oldest Peanut." They both lived up to their billing. It is a very small museum, but is a fun visit for a pleasant hour - it is on the main drag and you can visit other historical sites, shops, etc., right at the same time.

Admission is now free. [Michael M., 12/09/2011]

World's Oldest Edible Cured Ham

About 5 feet from the ham is the World's Oldest Peanut. It was started by the father of the guy who started the oldest ham. The peanut is now in Guinness World Records as the oldest. So see the ham, and get another oldest as well.

The museum attendant was super helpful. It's nice and well kept up. Lots to do for adults with a childish attitude. Everything from narrated general store to an archeological dig you can do. We covered ourselves in sand. [Shane, 02/24/2011]

World's Oldest Edible Cured Ham

The ham and the museum remain much as the other tipsters have said. They found the ham after it had fallen off the conveyor belt around 1902. I forget his name (I will call him Mr. Smithfield) wanted to see how long it would last. Around 1920 he put a gold leash on it and started taking it to parties. Now it's outlived him. [Ardith Ohka, 03/06/2010]

World's Oldest Edible Cured Ham

This museum certainly was worth the wait. We attempted to visit once, but the museum was closed for almost two years due to a flood. We entered and were immediately escorted to view the Hams on display. Also mention The World's Oldest Peanut, and the World's Largest Ham biscuit being made here, and the certificate from Ripley's Believe It or Not.

All in all, this museum is what tourist stops are all about. [Alphageek, 06/27/2009]

World's Oldest Edible Cured Ham

Smithfield is a typical all-American town, complete with nicely restored historic buildings, kitschy shops, and a museum showcasing a big, moldy ham. The town and museum staff seems oddly normal, considering their circumstances. I mean, this is "the real America." Anyone that cares this much about showing off a rotting pig should be on a trash-covered sidewalk in New Jersey, not Smithfield. This museum may have found the only way to make hoarding an old, moldy ham seem acceptable, as it is encased in glass and presented alongside sparse collections of Colonial and Native American artifacts. [Tiffany Belacic, 01/28/2009]

[RA: We don't know about "trash-covered sidewalks," but lucky NJ is the only state where you can look at two pieces of Grover Cleveland's wedding cake that are older than Smithfield's ham (the middle one in the photo).]