Long before North America was populated by cornfields and cows, dinosaurs roamed the land. A new temporary exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth allows children and adults to explore dinosaur habitats to better understand how these mysterious animals lived. Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice transports families back to the Cretaceous …
The 2016 Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum Lecture Series concludes on September 8, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. with a “Tea and History” program. Join us for a cup of tea and hear award-winning historian and author John V. Quarstein speak about the history of America’s oldest shipyard, known today as Norfolk Naval Shipyard …
TIDEWATER TRAVELER | By James F. Lee | Published June 2016 On the patio of the Bier Garden in Portsmouth, I sample a German beer and a Bavarian wurst. From my vantage, I can enjoy the art deco front of the historic Commodore Theatre and the lovely crepe myrtles and pin oaks lining High Street. Portsmouth often plays …
AltDaily | June 1, 2016 By Jacqui Riffe It’s a mixture of good dining, unique activities, and if you really warm up to us, a variety of upscale housing, all set on the backdrop of the Elizabeth River. Here’s a local’s guide on fun, food and where to hang your hat at the end of the day. …
“We are always looking for ways to bring families back by offering something new,” said Exhibit Supervisor Tim Michalski. “It seems to be popular and the kids don’t realize they’re learning.”
The oldest, continually held Memorial Day Parade in the United States.
The United States Coast Guard has maintained a presence in Portsmouth for over a hundred years. Portsmouth current serves as the headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet Command and the 5th District. Being a Coast Guard City means there is a special relationship between Coast Guard and the host community. As of 2021, there are only …
The new state-of-the-art facility, is located in the Victory Village business park.
This is the largest private port development in the United States and is operated by the Virginia Port Authority. It began under APM Terminals and has since evolved into a partnership that includes Alinda Capital and the Virginia Port Authority. The terminal saw significant upgrades in 2019 and is now capable of handling three Ultra …
Located in the Churchland area, the Old Dominion University Tri-Cities Higher Education Center is a full-service facility offering upper level undergraduate 300- and 400-level degree completion classes, graduate and certificate programs, admissions, registration, advising and other student services for residents of Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk and surrounding areas
The “Path of History” is a walking trail that tells the story of Portsmouth’s unique relationship with the local military and, especially, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It stretches from Fort Nelson Park outside the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center to Gosport Park located just across the street from Quarters A at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The …
After nearly four decades to light up the Portsmouth waterfront. The Fresnel Lens is on loan to the City of Portsmouth by the U.S. Coast Guard. It once shone from the Hogg Island Lighthouse on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and is the only lens of its kind on display outside a museum setting. The lens is …
Portsmouth’s citizens and visitors came together at the North Landing for a party that included a large birthday cake, performances by Colonel Crawford (Ricky Price), bands, dancing, and even a fireworks show.
Building Number One, is the nation’s oldest naval hospital, and has been a significant place for the treatment of the nation’s military and their dependents since early 1800s.
The yacht center is located just 18 miles from the Atlantic Ocean where the engines, shafts and propellers of the world’s largest pleasure ships can be repaired. Additional amenities include 122 floating slips, indoor dry storage for 320 boats and more than 1,000 of alongside dockage. Completion of the center is scheduled for the first …
The Charette Center is the third naval hospital built in Portsmouth. It occupies a million square feet, five stories, and is a state of the art facility with 17 operating rooms, 300 exam rooms, 320 beds, 140 special treatment rooms, and 26 elevators. The Center is named for Master Chief Corpsman William R. Charette who …
Portsmouth was selected for the location where all art training could be consolidated. Taking over the long vacant Famous department store, the Visual Arts Center offers classes in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, glassblowing, videography.
Revitalization includes the downtown business district, many capital improvement projects, including new streets and lighting, a new waterfront park and renovated City Park with boat ramp, landscaping and several beautification projects.
To commemorate America’s bicentennial, the City of Portsmouth commissioned the Lafayette Arch. The arch is dedicated to all who have lived or died for freedom and was inspired by an arch erected in Portsmouth in 1824 to honor the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to the city. The lion’s head came from the demolished American National …
The Portsmouth Seawall is a linear walking path stretching about a mile on the eastern edge of the city. It is used for recreation by locals and visitors and includes commercial and residential structures along with museums and historic sites. A Seawall renovation project began in 2017 and should be complete in 2022.
The USS Skate (SSN 578) arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and became the first nuclear powered submarine to undergo a major overhaul at the Portsmouth location. With the nuclear refueling and installation of the SUBSAFE package, the Skate remained in the yard until September 1967. Skate was the first submarine to finish this major …
With the beginning of nuclear refueling projects planned for the shipyard, security became tighter. The public could no longer access the historic artifacts at the Shipyard Museum. When the ferries stopped running in 1956, the ferry maintenance building was no longer needed. The City and Shipyard worked together on exhibits for the museum and to …
The two lane tunnel was added to supplement the Downtown Tunnel and Berkeley Bridge crossing. It is the second crossing between Portsmouth and Norfolk. In 2016, it was expanded with a separate tube, making two lanes in each direction. It was included as part of the Pinner’s Point Connection, linking 164 and the MLK Expressway …