Built in 1894 for Mr. James Wilson Hunter & wife Lizzie. Hunter was a prominent merchant, banker &…read morecivic leader. The home is restored close to original and is in private foundation. Located in the Freemason District, one of the original neighborhoods in Norfolk. Beautiful two story eclectic nineteenth century homes line the street. Parking is off street. Hours Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM Sunday 12:30-3:30 PM. Ring the door bell and wait for a guide to answer. Admission is $5 adult, $4 senior, $1 child. No pictures are not permitted inside the home. Gift store on the third floor. Definitely a hidden gem off the beaten path that I have enjoyed over the years. Worthy for visitors and locals alike to check out.

Beautiful Victorian home that offers both guided and self-guided tours. Extremely knowledgeable and…read morefriendly staff were able to share fascinating details about the family and customs of the time. Definitely worth a trip when visiting Norfolk!

Ghent is a melting pot of cool architecture, museums, schools, churches, unique shopping, music,…read moreupscale dinning, antique stores, sidewalk cafes, street performers and yes hippies. The main drags of the business district are Colley Ave, Colonial Ave and 21 St. The residential area is eclectic pre turn and turn of the century Queen Anne, Tudor and Colonial Revival. Development began in the 1890's. It's name Ghent hales from from a city in Belgium. Neighborhoods include Ghent, West Ghent, East Ghent, Ghent Square. It is a city within a city since its Norfolk. This is where the most wealthy Industrialist of the day resided. The Ghent Historic District is on the National Register of Historic places. The most historic buildings of Ghent on a little research that I did Warren (c. 1925), the Holland (1904), the Mowbray (c. 1914), Eastern Virginia Medical School, Sarah Leigh Hospital (1902), Fergus Reid residence (1892), the Frank S. Royster residence (c. 1900-02), the William H. White residence (c. 1892), the Richard B. Tunstall residence (c. 1892), the Robert M. and Robert W. Hughes residence (c. 1895-1900), and the William Tait residence (c. 1895). On several of my visits on foot I came across residents running, walking, maintaining their yard and even conversing with their neighbors. It seemed like on every block a resident had a renovation underway whether big, or small. I stopped and talked with at least three Ghent residents and found them all to be super friendly. Interestingly even though the homes are very old, most have only turned over two, to three times in ownership per a local. I spent a great deal of time taking pics for this review, I urge you to check them out. My recommendation is to experience Ghent on foot as I have done on almost a half dozen visits. If you have yet to explore this gorgeous and historic area there is no time like the present. Christmas decorations will soon be up and from what I am told it will be spectacular. I think you will agree that it's a treasured place for us all to enjoy no matter where you reside in Hampton Roads.

This is the nicest part of Norfolk. A city that's already on the ocean has a smaller island that is…read morequieter and more expensive (read, more cared for and historical architecture). It's a walking tour paradise.

The Museum was closed when I was here but the park remains open until dusk, which gave me the…read moreopportunity to walk around. There are a number of monuments and memorials here and of course, you can walk over and watch the Great Bridge Bridge open and close if you're fortunate. One highlight is the obelisk commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge. It is a tribute to the Patriot soldiers who fought and died in one of Virginia's earliest Revolutionary War victories. It is a classic granite shaft, inscribed with tributes to the men who helped drive British forces from the colony on December 9, 1775. If you're able, tour the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Museum. Lots of history on the Colonial Era and the brief but decisive clash that marked a turning point: colonial forces routed British troops under Lord Dunmore, effectively ending royal control in Virginia and forcing the British to retreat to Norfolk. [Review 901 of 2025 - 1490 in Virginia - 24457 overall]

We love this park and it's nice and close to home. Sadly I haven't been into the museum yet. But…read morethe nature and the paths to walk are nice. In the front you will find a concrete path with information along the way. The path away from the water has been Newley done with concrete used to be gravel. It will lead you to a oversight and can take you along another path to walk down. The path near the water will take you all the way down to the high bridge. It's a very nice walk and sand at the end with water. Just don't forget some bug spray! And watch for snakes. Also in the front past the building you can find lots of picnic tables to have some hangout time or some lunch. It's in a perfect location lots of places to grab food near and drive to sit and eat.

Craney Island, actually a point of land in Portsmouth near the mouth of the Elizabeth River, wasn't…read morealways used as a Supply Center by the Navy. Those of us who study the War of 1812 know it for its place in history. The Craney Island Fort was built to protect the Norfolk Harbor during that war. Should the British penetrate Craney Island's defenses, awaiting as further deterrents were Fort Norfolk on the Norfolk side of the river and Fort Nelson on the Portsmouth side. The British did attack. But a highly manned defense held off the assault during the June 22, 1813 Battle of Craney Island. Having served its purpose during the war, it was eventually abandoned. A more recognizable name associated with Craney Island is the Civil War era Battle of the Monitor & Merrimack. The modern Monitor Merrimack Bridge/Tunnel is named for the battle. The ironclad USS Merrimack (or Confederate renamed Virginia) was based at Craney Island. It was also burned there by its crew following the capture of Norfolk by the Union. For years I would see a green haze at the lowest part of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. No one riding in the car with me saw it. I would always tell them that it was the ghosts of the Monitor & Merrimack. Craney Island has had a varied past through the generations. It served as the home of a lighthouse, a dredge dump, fuel depot, bird sanctuary & battleship port. But if you spot Craney Island while crossing the Monitor Merrimack Bridge, picture it through my eyes. It's a fort, teeming with soldiers & sailors, providing critical protection for the Norfolk Harbor during the War of 1812.

One of the most historic sights in Norfolk. Find the…read morecannonball fired by Lord Dunmore and see the graves of some of the founders of Norfolk.

This is a review for the historical building and cemetery; not the services offered…read more St Paul's was built in 1739 and we always enjoy stopping here for a glimpse back in time. Walking around the peaceful grounds, you forget you are in downtown Norfolk with a mall next door. The centuries-old headstones, the English cannonball embedded in the brick wall of the church from the Revolutionary War and the architecture all add to the charm.

Perhaps inspired by the Zero Mile Stone in Washington, DC, this one here in Norfolk Virginia reads:…read more "Point of measurement for distances from Norfolk on highways of the United States. Erected by The Boy Scouts of Norfolk, February 8, 1929." It is located in downtown Norfolk in front of the building that used to be City Hall and is now the MacArthur Memorial.

Just the most interesting history for our area. My husband and I love the history of our hometown…read more My husband found this statue and stopped one day. What a wonderful easter egg to find. For me it is such a sweet statue. It is a sad story but we learn from history and make sure we don't make the same mistakes. If your in the area make sure you stop by and take a look. History is always cool

The Witch of Pungo statue, located at the corner of Independence Boulevard & N Witchduck Road, was…read morea project conceived and fund raised by the late Belinda Nash. An expert on Grace Sherwood, Belinda would dress in costume and present informative historic programs on the only woman condemned as a witch in Virginia and dunked in water. Although Belinda wasn't a native of the area, I came to believe that she felt she was Grace Sherwood reincarnated. It was Belinda's goal to have the vestry of the Lynnhaven Parish Church, that originally condemned Grace, pardon her on the 300th Anniversary of the dunking. When it didn't appear that would happen, she appealed to then Governor Tim Kaine. On July 10, 2006, the 300th Anniversary, Governor Kaine issued an informal pardon of Grace Sherwood, the local legend known as the Witch of Pungo. A plaque on the statue is inscribed with the pardon verbiage. The statue embodies elements that first caught the attention of her suspicious neighbors, including her love of animals. To visit the statue, one must turn off Independence Boulevard onto N Witchduck Road. Then enter the parking lot at Sentara Independence, on whose property the statue is located. Across N Witchduck Road is Old Donation Episcopal, the Lynnhaven Parish Church. On her grounds is a small monument in the midst of an herb garden, in memory of Grace Sherwood. Winding behind the adjacent neighborhood is the Lynnhaven River, in which Grace was dunked but lived to see a longer life. A re-enactment of the dunking happens annually. Following the dunking Grace was imprisoned. Later in life court records prove that she was free. No record can be found as to how she was released. There are missing older court records. The Witch of Pungo Statue stands in a continuing watch over the area in which Grace Sherwood was dunked and imprisoned. She is a tribute to a time that should be remembered throughout the ages.

We were in Norfolk for a short time on our cruise, and we docked right next to the USS Wisconsin…read more So we decided we would checkout this historic Navy battleship. The museum is full of historic information and articles to view. One of the coolest part of the experience is being able to board the USS Wisconsin, even for someone like me, a wheelchair user. I was able to tour the deck and check out many areas of the ship. The docents and museum personnel were friendly and knowledgeable when anyone had a question or wanted to know more of the history of "Old Whisky" I am a naval history buff and the chance to be able to get on a ship that helped the US in WWII, it was a treat. Whether you are visiting Norfolk for a long or short visit, put this historic Navy battleship!

Love passing this little backyard I have I live down the street and get to enjoy walking downtown…read moreand seeing the Wisconsin when families in town we do the winner fest on the Wisconsin. I've done yoga on there. I've had a party for girls on the run for a half marathon.

A must read: The…read moreHampton Roads area is rich with battleground history (Civil War), and I try to learn as much as possible. Dr. Stewart and I did the Battle of Great Bridge museum tour this weekend and learned some interesting facts. One surprising fact was that enslaved people dug the dismal swamp out by hand. An awkward moment was when our docent (a white woman) expressed how she would "not even walk the dismal swamp today and how she can not imagine putting her hands in it to dig." Yes, that's what she said as she led a tour of all black patrons through this museum. There was a lot to learn about the history of the Great Bridge and how it came about. The information given will have you yearning for more. I actually came home and looked up more historical facts about this battleground, and I must say I had no clue how involved enslaved people were in the making of the Great Bridge!

Four stars for history where the British lost. Yay! This marker denotes a battle that occurred here…read morewhere the "Revolutionaries" won. There are markers on the north and south side of the bridge, but nowhere to really stop and read them. I left my car in the drug store parking lot to read the following: In this vicinity, in 1775, was the southern end of a causeway, with bridges, by which the swamp and stream were crossed. Here William Woodford's Virginia riflemen defended the passage. When Lord Dunmore's British regulars attempted to cross the swamp, on December 9, 1775, they were cut to pieces by the fire of the riflemen. This defeat forced Dunmore to evacuate Norfolk.

More than just the marker, there is a touching statue here of Grace Sherwood. Having visited the…read moreVirginia Beach area many times and spending some time here, it never occurred to me to think about where the name of "Witchduck Road" came from. And now that I know the sad tale of it, I share it with you. The marker reads: "The witchcraft case of Grace Sherwood is one of the best known in Virginia. She was accused of bewitching a neighbor's crop in 1698. Allegations grew over time until the Princess Anne County government and her accusers decided she would be tested by ducking, since water was considered pure and would not permit a witch to sink into its depths. Sherwood's accusers on 10 July 1706 tied her hands to her feet and dropped her into the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River near what is now known as Witch Duck Point. Sherwood floated, a sign of guilt. She was imprisoned, but was eventually released. Sherwood lived the rest of her life quietly and died by 1740." There is also a small plaque at the foot of the statue that reads: "I am pleased to join the Mayor of Virginia Beach in extending best wishes as you work to promote justice in the 1706 "witch ducking" case of Grace Sherwood. With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice. We can also celebrate the fact woman's equality is that a constitutionally protected today, and woman have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams. The historical records that survive indicate that Ms. Sherwood, a midwife and widowed mother of three, survived her "Trial by Water" in 1706. Those records also indicate that one of my predecessors, Governor Alexander Spotswood, eventually helped her reclaim her property. The record also indicates Ms. Sherwood led an otherwise quiet and law-abiding life until she died at the age of 80. Today, July 10, 2006, as the 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood. Sincerely, Timothy M. Kane" The marker and statue (with a small bench) are at the corner of Independence and Witchduck Road in front of the hospital.