Naval Station Norfolk
1917The world's largest naval station, home to the Atlantic Fleet and over seventy-five ships.
7.7 mi away
Everything Portsmouth is known for
Portsmouth, Virginia, a historic seaport in Coastal Virginia, has a notable connection to music. The city has been home to influential artists across various genres. For example, hip-hop legend Missy Elliott and R&B pioneer Ruth Brown both hail from Portsmouth.
The city's musical footprint extends to popular songs as well, with Portsmouth being mentioned in tracks like "Whack Rappers" by Afroman and "Diet Coke" by Pusha T. Live music can be found at venues such as the Portsmouth Pavilion, a waterfront outdoor concert venue.
The world's largest naval station, home to the Atlantic Fleet and over seventy-five ships.
The first federally funded lighthouse in the United States, authorized by the first Congress in 1789.
A vast swamp on the Virginia-North Carolina border where George Washington tried to drain it and enslaved people found freedom in its depths.
56 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Imagine Portsmouth bustling with activity, the air thick with the scent of coal and the rumble of locomotives. This is where the Seaboard Coastline Building, originally known as the Seaboard Air Line Railroad building,…
Marvel at the architecture of this late 19th-century Knights of Pythias building, a unique landmark in Portsmouth. This is the Pythian Castle, built between 1897 and 1898 for the Atlantic Lodge, Knights of Pythias. It's…
This spot isn't just a town square; it's a place where history grapples with memory. The Confederate Monument, erected here between 1876 and 1881, stood as a powerful symbol for decades. It was a 35-foot obelisk made of…
Step back in time to a place where movies were more than just a screen: the Commodore Theatre. Built in 1945, this Art Deco gem was *the* place to be in Portsmouth. Originally seating 1,000 moviegoers, the Commodore…
Ever wonder what it was like to walk through a bustling colonial port city? You're standing in it! Downtown Portsmouth is a living museum, with over 200 buildings that tell the story of this historic place. This area…
You're now approaching the East Radford Historic District, a place that tells the story of Radford's boomtown days. It's a neighborhood that sprang to life after the railroad arrived, transforming a small depot into a…
Step aboard, virtually, the USS Wisconsin, a WWII-era battleship that saw action in the Pacific and Korea, and now serves as a museum. Completed in 1944, she joined the fight in the Pacific. She shelled Japanese-held…
Step back in time at this historic shopping arcade built in 1907 in the Beaux Arts style. The Monticello Arcade was built on land leased from the Selden Grandy Estate. It's a three-story building with a steel frame,…
Catch a show at the Wells Theatre, a beautifully restored performing arts venue that has been entertaining Norfolk audiences for decades. Built by the vaudeville impresario Jake Wells, the Wells Theatre opened its doors…
You're looking at a true workhorse of American naval history: Drydock Number One at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It's the oldest operational drydock in the U.S., and it's seen a *lot*. Construction began in 1827, and it…
You're looking at a survivor! Saint Paul's Episcopal Church is the only colonial-era building still standing after the devastating Burning of Norfolk in 1776. During the Revolutionary War, Norfolk was a key port city.…
Norfolk, Virginia, owes its name to a land across the Atlantic. Established as a borough in 1736, the city was named in honor of Norfolk, England, a county known for its flatlands, broad skies, and maritime history. The…
These walls have witnessed Norfolk's transformation from a bustling colonial port to a modern city. Built around 1791, the Taylor–Whittle House is a prime example of Federal-style architecture, popular in the early days…
Ever wonder how America protected its harbors in the early days? Fort Norfolk is a perfect example. Built between 1795 and 1809, this fort was part of George Washington's plan for coastal defense. It played a role in…
Get ready to be amazed by art! The Chrysler Museum isn't just another museum; it's a testament to how one person's passion can transform a city. It all started in 1933 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. Then,…
Get ready to shift gears back in time! This area, now known as the Norfolk Auto Row Historic District, was once the heart of the city's car culture. Originally a low-income housing area in the early 1900s, this area…
This humble cemetery whispers tales of resilience and remembrance, a place where Norfolk's African American history is etched in stone. Established in 1873, West Point Cemetery, also known as Potter's Field, served as a…
Railroads built America, and this district shows how Norfolk rode that iron horse to prosperity. Centered around the Norfolk and Western Railroad tracks, this area exploded between 1890 and 1930, becoming a hub of…
Step back in time as you pass Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery, a window into Norfolk's rich Catholic heritage. Established in 1854 by the pastor of St. Mary's Church, it became the final resting place for Catholics from…
Pulling up to Norfolk Academy? You're near a place with some serious history – we're talking nearly three centuries of it! Chartered way back in 1728, Norfolk Academy holds the title of the oldest private school in…
Believe it or not, this gorgeous garden grew from a patch of barren land! The Norfolk Botanical Garden's story began in 1938 during the Great Depression. A grant of $77,000 was secured from the Works Progress…
The world's largest naval station, home to the Atlantic Fleet and over seventy-five ships.
This unassuming spot was once the vibrant heart of a world's fair! It was 1907, and the United States was celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement with the Jamestown Exposition. Picture a sprawling…
Right here, in 1775, colonial forces handed the British a major defeat at the Battle of Great Bridge, a pivotal moment in the early days of the Revolutionary War. Royal Governor Lord Dunmore had fortified the south side…
Chesapeake, Virginia, sits squarely on land carved out by the English, but its story is more complex than a simple colonial narrative. Early settlers, drawn by the promise of tobacco farming, came primarily from…
Keep an eye out for a lonely sentinel rising from the water – the Newport News Middle Ground Light, the oldest caisson lighthouse in Virginia. Built in 1891, this lighthouse marked a dangerous shoal in the James River,…
Imagine gathering here for worship nearly 400 years ago – this spot is home to the oldest church in Virginia Beach. The story starts around 1637, when local folks began holding church services in the home of Adam…
Imagine life on a Tidewater Virginia plantation almost 300 years ago. That's what the Lynnhaven House represents. Built around 1725, this house was originally part of a 250-acre plantation owned by the Thelaball family.…
Imagine a time when the Lynnhaven River was a bustling highway, and this very spot was a vital connection. This is Ferry Plantation House, a place steeped in early Virginia history. Back in 1642, Savill Gaskin…
Imagine standing where people lived and built for over 300 years! The Hermitage, also called Devereaux House, is a Virginia Beach home with sections dating all the way back to 1700. The original section was built around…
That little island fort you see out there, Fort Wool, once played a crucial role in defending Hampton Roads. Construction began in 1819 to create a coastal defense system. The artificial island, initially called Rip…
Imagine colonial Virginians gathering here almost 300 years ago – right where you're driving now. This is Glebe Church, built in 1737, a vital part of the early Anglican community in this area. Construction began in…
Pulling up to the Francis Land House is like stepping back into the world of colonial Virginia. This wasn't just a house; it was the heart of a working plantation owned by the Land family, who were big players in…
Marvel at the Hotel Warwick, a seven-story building showcasing an eclectic mix of Gothic Revival and Art Deco styles. It was the first skyscraper, first tower hotel, and first fireproof hotel in Newport News. Built in…
Newport News, Virginia, hums with a unique energy, a blend of maritime grit and forward-looking innovation. The city owes its existence to its deepwater access, a feature that caught the eye of Collis P. Huntington, who…
Before you, the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal whispers tales of vital waterways and ambitious engineering. In the mid-1800s, a corporation embarked on a grand project: to connect the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound…
Ever wonder how a town gets its name? Here in Phoebus, Virginia, it's a story of railroads and resilience. Originally named Chesapeake City in 1871, the town's fate took a turn when local businessman Harrison Phoebus…
Pull over here for a second! This unassuming house on Adam Keeling Road is one of the oldest in Virginia Beach. The Adam Keeling House, likely built around 1735, was constructed using timbers felled just a year or two…
You're near a place that witnessed the very beginnings of English America: St. John's Church. Founded way back in 1610, it's the oldest continuously running English-speaking parish in the whole country. Life here in the…
Pull over for a minute and imagine a whole village springing up almost overnight! Hilton Village was built to house shipyard workers during World War I. Between 1918 and 1921, the U.S. government built this planned…
Stand near this peaceful spot, and you're close to the final resting place of a true American hero. This is the Josiah Parker Family Cemetery. Colonel Josiah Parker wasn't just any soldier; he was a leader in the…
Imagine stepping onto this sandy shore after months at sea – that's exactly what English colonists did right here, marking the very first landing of the Virginia Company in 1607! Captain Christopher Newport led the…
Bethel High School (1067 Big Bethel Rd., Hampton, VA) produced Allen Iverson, the 2001 NBA MVP, eleven-time All-Star, and Hall of Famer. What sets his origin apart is two sports at once: as a junior in the 1992-93…
This unassuming metal structure revolutionized aircraft design. The Variable Density Tunnel, or VDT, allowed engineers to test scale models under different air pressures, mimicking flight conditions far more accurately…
Buckle up, aviation buffs! We're near the Full-Scale Wind Tunnel, a place where engineers wrestled the secrets of flight from the very air itself. Back in 1929, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the…
Imagine a place where dreams of faster, more efficient flight took shape. That's right here near the Eight-Foot High Speed Tunnel. Completed in 1936, this wind tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center allowed engineers…
The first federally funded lighthouse in the United States, authorized by the first Congress in 1789.
Stand here, and you're at the very spot where the United States first took responsibility for guiding ships safely along its coast. This is Cape Henry, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Back in 1792,…
Imagine standing where English colonists first set foot in Virginia, changing the course of history forever. On April 26, 1607, three ships carrying colonists bound for Jamestown made landfall right here at Cape Henry.…
Ever driven past a military base named after a Confederate general? That's Camp Pendleton. It's a 325-acre state military reservation right here in Virginia Beach. It's named for William N. Pendleton, who served as…
Get ready to experience a slice of Virginia Beach history! The Cavalier Hotel, with its unique Y-shaped design, has been a landmark here since 1927. Designed by Neff and Thompson, the seven-story hotel was built so most…
Right here, astronauts practiced the ultimate high-stakes maneuver: docking in space. Back in the 1960s, during the Gemini program, NASA built this Rendezvous Docking Simulator at Langley Research Center. It was a…
Virginia Beach, named so plainly for its geography, carries echoes of a past richer than its simple moniker suggests. The barrier islands and coastal plains that make up the area were, for centuries, home to indigenous…
Hold on to your peanuts! This unassuming building played a major role in Virginia's agricultural history. Since around 1902, this site has been the heart of peanut processing in Suffolk. By 1932, the Suffolk Peanut…
A vast swamp on the Virginia-North Carolina border where George Washington tried to drain it and enslaved people found freedom in its depths.
Imagine a shortcut through the wilderness, carved by hand and back-breaking labor – that's the Dismal Swamp Canal. Construction began in 1793, spearheaded by visionaries like Patrick Henry. The goal? To create a…