Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Seaboard Air Line Railroad

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026

1. Seaboard Air Line Railroad Marker

Inscription. The Portsmouth & Roanoke Railroad was incorporated in March 1832 and began operations in July 1834 when the first train, pulled by horses, ran a full circuit from Portsmouth to Suffolk. A locomotive replaced the horses later that year. By late 1836, the full line running to Weldon, N.C., was completed. In 1846 the line was reorganized as the Seaboard & Roanoke and eventually became the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

This building at High Street Landing served as the Seaboard Air Line Railroad headquarters and station from 1894 through 1958, when the company moved its operations to Richmond, Va. Since that time, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad has survived a number of mergers, existing today as CSX Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1832.

Location. 36° 50.11′ N, 76° 17.804′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It can be reached from the intersection of Water Street and High Street, on the right when traveling north. Between 1 High Street and the ferry landing. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically 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 markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gosport Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); John Luke Porter (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Naval Shipyard Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); First Order Fresnel Lens from the Hog Island Light (within shouting distance of this marker); Portsmouth Medal of Honor Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Home Site of William Crawford (d. 1762) Founder of Portsmouth (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War at Portsmouth (within shouting distance of this marker); In Commemoration of the Last Public Appearance of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

More about this marker. This marker is part of the Portsmouth, VA Path of History.

Photographed by Don Morfe, June 24, 2012

2. Seaboard Air Line Railroad Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026

3. Seaboard Air Line Railroad Marker

Seaboard Coastline Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009

4. Seaboard Coastline Building

Headquarters of Seaboard Air Line Railroad. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025

5. Seaboard Coastline Building

The old railroad company HQ towers over the ferry landing at the end of High Street. Built in 1894-5, the building also housed a passenger terminal for the railroad on its lower level, with the rail station running adjacent to it between the building and the Elizabeth River (i.e., between the photographer and the building in this photo - the landscape has since changed substantially). From 1958-1980 it served as Portsmouth's City Hall/Municipal Building.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,620 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 12, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 2. submitted on September 18, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on April 12, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 30, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 5. submitted on February 10, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.