Completed in 1774, Smithfield became not only the county’s political and social center, it was a beacon, a destination, for thousands of settlers moving west to seek new land and opportunity. Smithfield became a place of resting and storing new provisions before the next leg of the westward passage. Historic Smithfield was first opened to the public in 1964, and today is a living exemplar of the past, a testimony to the bravery and devotion to country of the Prestons, who made it their home.