Hampton Roads

Fort Monroe - Hampton

Cape Henry Lighthouses - Virginia Beach                                                                                                                         Atlantic Ave. & Sicily Rd., Virginia Beach, VA   -   GPS – N36 55.543' W76 00.446

The original Cape Henry lighthouse was authorized by the first U.S. Congress.  It is the third oldest lighthouse still  standing in the United States and the oldest on the Chesapeake Bay.  Its planning started in 1774.  War and lack of funding delayed construction planning until 1789, and actual construction was from 1791 to 1792.   The 90-ft. octagonal sandstone tower is a national historic landmark.  A first order Fresnel lens was added in 1857, which was destroyed by Confederate raiders in 1863.  In 1870, the structure began to crack, prompting  construction of a replacement lighthouse 357 feet to the southeast.  The original lighthouse was decommissioned upon the completion of the second in 1881.  The new lighthouse was a 164-ft. octagonal tower made with a cast  iron plate exterior over a substructure of masonry.  It was automated in 1984 and emits an 80,000 candlepower flash every 20 seconds.  In the 1960s, while on a double date, two teenaged boys climbed to the top of the  original lighthouse.  Trying to see in the darkness, one lit a pad of matches.  The Fresnel lens magnified the light so greatly that a ship at sea radioed a message of concern.  The boys were surprised when they and  their dates were arrested.  This was reported in "The Virginian-Pilot."  I happen to know one of those boys.  His name is Mel Gibson, a photographer at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  Bill Black, Mel's  co-worker, admitted reading the original article.

Harborfest OpSail 2000 - Norfolk's Waterside                                                                                                                                                               333 Waterside Dr., Norfolk, VA      -     GPS – N36 50.758' W76 17.724'

The Norfolk Harbor is host to many festivals annually.  The foremost celebration is Norfolk's Harborfest. Each June,  the maritime celebration plays host to ships from around the world that participate in the Parade of Sail with their crews enjoying the weekend full of music, food and festivities.  Many of the ships become floating museums,  teaching land lovers about maritime history while sharing tales of pirates and gold.  For this one weekend a year, the skyline is filled with the sails of tall ships.  The harbor is alive with craft of all kinds as  everyone enjoys the activities that culminate in a choreographed display of fireworks which beautifully reflect on the Elizabeth River's surface.  Norfolk Harborfest was host to Op Sail 2000, the largest celebration of tall  ships ever organized.  You can enjoy Harborfest 2002 from June 7-9, and also sample the Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Foodfest from June 21-23.

Battle of Great Bridge - Chesapeake

Chesapeake Opsail 2000

Civil War Days

Colonna Houseboat, Indian River - Chesapeake

Lake Drummomd & The Dismal Swamp Canal  -  Chesapeake/Suffolk                                                                               Feeder Ditch at George Washington Hwy., Rt. 17, near Ballahack Rd., Chesapeake, VA     -      GPS – N36 36.11' W76 28.15'

There have been many theories about the origin of Lake Drummond, a beautiful lake dotted with ancient Cyprus trees, that is  shared by the cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk.  Some say a peat fire, an artesian well at its center, or maybe even a giant meteor created the lake.  What pollen and carbon-14 dating methods provided is that Lake  Drummond has been around for more than 5,000 years.  We know, also, it has no less than six major canals penetrating its shoreline.  In the mid-1700s, George Washington wanted to drain the lake and farm the land.   Although this dream was never successful, millions of board feet of timber were floated out through the canals.  This method of lumbering declined after the turn of the 20th century with the advent of railroading and movable tracks reaching deep into the swamp.  The lake's water was used to maintain the level of the canals.  This was important to the shipping of farm goods as well as passengers, north and south.  This view is at sunrise from the Chesapeake entrance.  While the splendor of Lake Drummond is always present, the color is best enjoyed in October and November .