Norfolk- Other Civil War Sites

The sites in this post are organized geographically starting outside of downtown and working toward the center of the city. Most but not all of the sites outside downtown are related to the May 6, 1862, Battle of Norfolk, see the link for previous posts on the battle. while those in the center of the city appear on the Cannonball Trail tour, shown below. Fort Norfolk and the city’s cemeteries are covered in separate posts.

Cannonball Trail sign- 36.8485333,-76.2943167- link to brochure

Outside downtown

The US Flag during the Civil War- 38.8523667,-76.1852333

**None of the flags were flying the day I visited**

On January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as the 34th state. Kansas was a state for less than three months when the nation went to war. On April 12, 1861, Confederate batteries opened fire on Ft. Sumter and for four years the United States would fight a bitter Civil War. This flag was carried into battle by Union troops until 1863. It carried 34 stars.

The Federals landed here at the modern-day Sarah Constant Beach Park during the Battle of Norfolk- 36.9581000, -76.2564167

Confederate defense line east of city- 36.8620411,-76.2462833.

Union troops marched toward the camera below on modern-day East Princess Anne Road.

Union troops marched south toward Norfolk.

Granby street bridge- 36.8901400, -76.2793938. Site of the wooden wartime Indian Pole Bridge. The Confederates burned the bridge here forcing the Federals to back track and approach the city from a more eastern route.

Camp Talbot- 36.9032333, -76.2776167

To the west near Fort Norfolk

The Lamb family home (Kenmure)- 420 West Bute Street. William Lamb and his family lived here after 1845 when the house was constructed. Colonel Lamb assumed command of Confederate forces at Fort Fisher in 1862 and was responsible for improving the fort dramatically. He was present for both battles there in December of 1864 and January of 1865. Lamb was wounded and captured during the second battle. After the war he served as mayor of Norfolk. He died in the city on March 23, 1909, and is buried here in Elmwood Cemetery.

Historical points of interest- 36.8602333,-76.3085333

South of downtown– 36.8433,-76.2861333

Downtown

127 Bank Street- Old Hampton Roads Maritime Association Building- This Classical Revival temple-style building is constructed of limestone. Built to house the Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank, it was the only Norfolk bank to survive the Civil War

101 East Main Street- US Customs House- Marker on the fence. Designed by Ammi B. Young, this Classical Revival structure remains one of Norfolk’s most impressive buildings. It has housed both customs offices and the post office, and was used by Federal troops as a dungeon between 1862 and 1865. It was built to replace a dilapidated 1825 structure several blocks away, where a grand ball honoring General Lafayette had been held in 1824.

First battle of the ironclads- 36.84585,-76.2940833 tablet

Hampton Roads Naval Museum- see separate post

William Harvey Carney- on the Trail of Honor 36.8487833,-76.2945167

351 Botetort Street- Dr William B Selden House- While Dr. William B. Selden served as Surgeon General of the Confederate Army, his home served as headquarters for Union occupation troops. A grand reception was held here in 1870 for General Robert E. Lee. There is a plaque on building.

308 West Freemason- Camp Hubbard House- This classic example of the Greek Revival architectural style features a one-story portico flanked by paired iconic columns. In 1851, William S. Camp helped organize the Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank, the only local bank to survive the Civil War. The original cast iron fencing is considered to be of museum quality.

227 West Freemason Street- Purdie Taylor Whittle House- One of the finest examples of Federal houses in Virginia, this house was built by George Purdie, a Norfolk merchant. It was bought in 1803 by Richard Taylor, the progenitor of a long line of distinguished Virginians including Captain Richard Page, the nephew of “Light Horse” Harry Lee. The house is currently undergoing restoration, I’m not sure for how long but this article appeared in the Virginian Pilot in 2014.

323 East Freemason Street- Moses Myers House- Moses Myers was one of the country’s first shipping magnates. This stately Georgian-style townhouse exhibits 70 percent of the furnishings that originally belonged to the Moses Myers family, who were Norfolk’s first Jewish settlers.

485 St Paul’s Boulevard- Old Norfolk Academy- This excellent example of Greek Revival architecture was designed by Thomas U. Walter (designer of the U.S. Capitol Dome). During the Civil War it served as a hospital to Union troops. Edgar Allen Poe gave his last lecture here in 1849.

Norfolk History Museum at the Willoughby Baylor House- 601 East Freemason Street. This Federal townhouse, built by Captain William Willoughby, was saved from the wrecking ball in the 1960s, restored, and turned over to the City of Norfolk as a house museum.

201 St Paul’s Boulevard- St. Paul’s Church- Built to replace the Chapel of Ease, erected on the same site in 1641, St. Paul’s is Norfolk’s only tangible link to her colonial roots. The church was the only structure in Norfolk Borough to survive the bombardment and fires of January 1776. A British cannonball still embedded in the wall of the church is a reminder.

Windows on History- City Hall Ave at McArthur Center- Four hundred years of Virginia history are showcased in 16 exterior display windows of MacArthur Center. The Windows trace Norfolk and environs from their earliest settlements in 1585 to the late 20th century. Elaborately illustrated with images and artifacts, the Windows capture watershed moments of the region’s history. This display which is behind glass was very difficult to photograph, parts of it are shown below.