Norfolk,
Virginia, Home of the Brave
Renee S. Gordon
Native Americans inhabited the
Norfolk region, in a
settlement known as Skicoak, for thousands of years prior to
the establishment of a European colony in 1636 and in 1682
Nicholas Wise sold 50 acres of riverfront property to the
Virginia General Assembly to found Norfolk. Fifty years later
it was the largest town in the colony. During the American
Revolution the busy port, shipbuilding industry and
transportation of goods made Norfolk a prime target for a
British attack and on January 1, 1776 they destroyed two-thirds
of the city. Citizens torched what remained to prevent
confiscation by the British. The city was rapidly rebuilt and
again established prominence as a port linking transportation
between North and South.
Norfolk’s fortunes turned in 1855 when the Benjamin
Franklin steamed into the harbor bringing with it Yellow
Fever. By the time the epidemic ended 33% of the population was
dead. Six years later Virginia seceded from the Union with the
political agreement of Norfolk. The battle between the
ironclads, the Monitor and the Merrimac, took place in the
harbor in 1862 and in that same year Mayor Lamb surrendered
Norfolk to the Union. It remained occupied until 1870.
In 1917 474-acres were purchased at Sewell’s Point by the
Secretary of the Navy for the establishment of a naval base. An
air station was added and eventually the two facilities
combined to become Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest
naval station. Naval
Base Station boat cruises are available. Reservations are
recommended.
nor_cannonball
Norfolk has developed a series of thematic, self-guided trails
that make a comprehensive tour of the city manageable. Routes
are designed around areas of interest, historic venues,
sightseeing and activities.
Cannonball Trail
The Cannonball Trail
offers 400 years of
history and provides
an excellent
orientation. Begin
with an overview in
the Norfolk History
Museum at the 1794
Willoughby-Baylor
House. This free
museum relates the
city’s stories
through use of
artifacts,
photographs and
text.
In 1862 the city was
formally surrendered
in Norfolk City
Courthouse, now the
MacArthur Memorial
3 building complex.
This free museum’s
highlights include
MacArthur’s iconic
hat, pipe, glasses
and artworks and
photographs. The
memorial’s other
areas include a
library, archives
and theater. The
museum contains nine
chronological
galleries featuring
significant periods
of his life. The
Rotunda contains the
tomb of Douglas
MacArthur and his
wife.
Civil War Trails
Civil War Trails
driving tour
showcases 24 sites
citywide with a
focus on Fort
Norfolk and the 1862
place, Ocean View,
where President
Lincoln landed to
visit McClellan and
remained to organize
a military operation
to take Norfolk.
Fort Norfolk, the
final extant
harbor-front fort,
was seized by the
Confederates in 1861
and retaken by the
Union in 1862.
Some of the
locations on the
trails are listed as
sites on more than
one route and figure
in numerous historic
events. Waterways to
Freedom intersects
with the self-guided
Underground Railroad
Journey from Hampton
Roads tour and the
Trail of Honor. The
story interpreted by
these trails dates
from the time of the
colonists when
slaves were imported
from Africa into the
region and were
active members in
the maritime trades.
Slaves would go to
Higgins’ and
Wrights’ Wharves and
clandestinely board
ships traveling
north.
Trail of Honor
On November 7, 1775
Lord Dunmore, Royal
Governor of
Virginia, issued a
proclamation from a
British warship,
anchored near
Norfolk,
emancipating any
slaves and
indentured servants
who would take up
arms for the British
Empire. Hundreds
fled to the British
lines and Dunmore
named them the
“Ethiopian
Regiment”. Initially
they defeated the
patriots but
evacuated the area
in August 1776 for
New York.
Prior to the Civil
War Norfolk was a
resale hub for
slaves. Traders
collected slaves
here from the North
and sold them deeper
South. It is
estimated that
21,000 enslaved
individuals,
including Solomon
Northrup, were sent
to New Orleans.
A highlight of the
Trail of Honor is
the 1920 West Point
Monument in the
Elmwood Cemetery. It
is dedicated to the
African American
veterans of the
Civil and the
Spanish American
Wars. A life-sized
bronze statue of
William
Carney crowns
the monument. Born
enslaved in Norfolk,
he was the first
African American to
be awarded the Medal
of Honor and is one
of more than 100 men
interred there.
Nauticus, a
complex featuring a
thematic museum and
science center is
located adjacent to
the Battleship
Wisconsin, one of
the navy’s biggest
and final
battleships built.
The first half of
the free museum
relates 246-years of
naval history
through displays
with detailed ships’
models, artwork,
dioramas and
artifacts. The
complete story of
the Ethiopian
Regiment is
showcased. The
second portion of
the museum has five
sections and focuses
on Vietnam with
emphasis on the 1968
Tet Offensive.
Guided and
self-guided tours of
the 887-ft.
Battleship Wisconsin
are available.
Visitors can follow
the footsteps of
Ensign Alan Dean,
the first African
American officer
(1951- 53) to serve
onboard the vessel,
through the
officers’ quarters,
chapel, upper levels
and sleeping
quarters. The
battleship was
active from WWII
until the Persian
Gulf War in the
1990s.
Art
Art is infused into
the culture of
Norfolk in a variety
of ways. The
Chrysler Museum of
Art presents 5,000
years of artistic
endeavors in 50
galleries and more
than 30,000
artworks. The
Chrysler Family
holds the largest
collection of free
glass in the world
and the adjacent
Perry Glass Studio
offers tours,
demonstrations and
the history of the
art of glassmaking.
The perfect
accommodation for a
visit to Norfolk is
the
Glass Light
Hotel and Gallery.
The hotel is within
a 5-minute walk of
the major
attractions,
shopping and dining.
The historic 1912
structure is now a
boutique hotel with
fitness facilities,
lobby bar, dining
options and deluxe
bedding, room
amenities and unique
decor. The hotel has
a 2-story gallery
displaying glass
sculptures by
renowned artists.
A Mermaid Trail
weaves throughout
Norfolk and combines
the city’s main
themes, art,
sustainability,
fanciful tales and
an endurable link to
the country’s
maritime history.
Follow in their wake
for a wonderful
experience.