Waterside Promenade in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Ferries to Portsmouth and Berkley
Photographed By Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
1. Ferries to Portsmouth and Berkley Marker
Inscription.
Ferries to Portsmouth and Berkley. . According to tradition, ferry service across the Elizabeth River was first established near this location in 1636 by Captain Adam Thoroughgood and operated by Lower Norfolk County. The earliest ferries were simply skiffs rowed by men. Later larger paddle wheel vessels were propelled by horses or mules on treadmills. In 1715, Major Samuel Boush was running two ferries for an annual fee of three thousand pounds of tobacco. The first steam ferry to serve Norfolk and Portsmouth was the “Gosport,” built in Portsmouth and outfitted in Philadelphia. Her first run was in 1832. The crossing time was reduced to five minutes. In 1840, the passenger fare was three cents. With the advent of the automobile, ferries were redesigned to handle cars and trucks. Even though the Downtown Tunnel opened in May 1952, vehicular ferries continued to cross the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth until the end of August 1955. The present Norfolk-Portsmouth passenger ferries, reinstated in 1983, continue a tradition of more than three centuries.
According to tradition, ferry service across the Elizabeth River was first established near this location in 1636 by Captain Adam Thoroughgood and operated by Lower Norfolk County. The earliest ferries were simply skiffs rowed by men. Later larger paddle wheel vessels were propelled by horses or mules on treadmills. In 1715, Major Samuel Boush was running two ferries for an annual fee of three thousand pounds of tobacco. The first steam ferry to serve Norfolk and Portsmouth was the “Gosport,” built in Portsmouth and outfitted in Philadelphia. Her first run was in 1832. The crossing time was reduced to five minutes. In 1840, the passenger fare was three cents. With the advent of the automobile, ferries were redesigned to handle cars and trucks. Even though the Downtown Tunnel opened in May 1952, vehicular ferries continued to cross the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth until the end of August 1955. The present Norfolk-Portsmouth passenger ferries, reinstated in 1983, continue a tradition of more than three centuries.
Erected by City of Norfolk.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1952.
Location. 36° 50.62′ N, 76° 17.464′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It
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is in Waterside Promenade. Marker can be reached from Waterside Drive. Along the Elizabeth River next to the ferry landing behind The Waterside building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Two ferries are visible here in the foreground, with Portsmouth (right) and Berkley (left) visible in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,182 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 3. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 4. submitted on October 7, 2015. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
