South Newport News , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Newport News

1607 - 1957

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

1. Newport News Marker

Inscription.

Newport News. This area was blessed with abundant springs famous to mariners for centuries after the great sea captain Christopher Newport visited here enroute to Jamestown in May 1607 in command of the first permanent English settlers of the New World. Thus began the great ports of Hampton Roads., First called Point Hope, it became Newport News between 1608 and 1619 and is the oldest English place name of any city in America. The name derives by tradition from the news received here of Captain Newport on his return voyages to supply Jamestown., Newport News was settled shortly after Jamestown and before 1619 was included in the corporation of Kecoughtan. In 1621, an extensive fortified plantation was established by Daniel Gookin, a native of Kent England. It was one of the few places to withstand the Great Indian Massacre of 1622., The future city was divided in 1634 between Elizabeth City Shire and Warwick River Shire., While the tobacco convoys made up off Newport News from the earliest days and ships stopped for water, the community was basically devoted to agriculture until the War Between the States, when a large Federal encampment was established. The major part of the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac (Virginia), ushering in the Age of Iron Ships, took place off-shore in 1862., Collis P. Huntington founded in 1880 the Atlantic terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway., In 1882 most of Newport News became a part of Warwick County., Mr. Huntington further developed the area by establishing what is now the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in 1886., The county seat of Warwick was moved here from 1888 until 1896, when Newport News became an independent city on January 16., It was a leading military port in the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II. The American invasion of North Africa was launched from Newport News in 1942. It is now the largest tobacco and single terminal coal port in the world., In its shipyard have been built many of the nation’s largest and most famous naval and merchant ships, including U.S.S. Newport News, a flagship of the U.S. Navy., Dedicated May 2nd, 1957.

This area was blessed with abundant springs famous to mariners for centuries after the great sea captain Christopher Newport visited here enroute to Jamestown in May 1607 in command of the first permanent English settlers of the New World. Thus began the great ports of Hampton Roads.

First called Point Hope, it became Newport News between 1608 and 1619 and is the oldest English place name of any city in America. The name derives by tradition from the news received here of Captain Newport on his return voyages to supply Jamestown.

Newport News was settled shortly after Jamestown and before 1619 was included in the corporation of Kecoughtan. In 1621, an extensive fortified plantation was established by Daniel Gookin, a native of Kent England. It was one of the few places to withstand the Great Indian Massacre of 1622.

The future city was divided in 1634 between Elizabeth City Shire and Warwick River Shire.

While the tobacco convoys made up off Newport News from the earliest days and ships stopped for water, the community was basically devoted to agriculture until the War Between the States, when a large Federal encampment was established. The major part of the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac (Virginia), ushering in the Age of Iron Ships, took place off-shore in 1862.

Collis P. Huntington founded in

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1880 the Atlantic terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

In 1882 most of Newport News became a part of Warwick County.

Mr. Huntington further developed the area by establishing what is now the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in 1886.

The county seat of Warwick was moved here from 1888 until 1896, when Newport News became an independent city on January 16.

It was a leading military port in the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II. The American invasion of North Africa was launched from Newport News in 1942. It is now the largest tobacco and single terminal coal port in the world.

In its shipyard have been built many of the nation’s largest and most famous naval and merchant ships, including U.S.S. Newport News, a flagship of the U.S. Navy.

Dedicated May 2nd, 1957

Erected 1957.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical date for this entry is January 16, 1607.

Location. 36° 58.681′ N, 76° 26.017′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in South Newport News. It is at the intersection of West Avenue and 27th Street, on the left when traveling north on West Avenue. Marker is at entrance to Christopher Newport Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newport News VA 23607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Hampton Roads,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

2. Newport News Marker

markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Great Confederate Naval Victory (here, next to this marker); Headquarters, Hampton Roads (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Victory Arch (about 500 feet away); Victory Avenue (about 500 feet away); Welcome Home (about 500 feet away); Newport News Victory Arch (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named The Victory Arch (about 600 feet away); Sons of the Flag (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Nameless Grave (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Collis Potter Huntington (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Congress – Cumberland (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Newport News Point (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Collis P. Huntington image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

3. Collis P. Huntington

This statue of Collis P. Huntington, mentioned in the marker, is located at the waterfront, in the park just west of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,962 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.