Downtown in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Commercial Place

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009

1. Commercial Place Marker

Inscription. When a survey was done in 1680 to lay out the town of Norfolk, one of the few streets shown was “the street that leadeth to the water side.” The original location was just to the west of this site. It fanned out from Front (now Main) Street south to the Elizabeth River. As the new town developed, this area became its commercial hub. When a market was built here near Front Street in the early 1700’s the area became known as Market Square. At the river’s edge a ferry dock and commercial wharves developed. About 1900 the name changed again, to Commercial Place. This illustration “Old Norfolk Evening” by artist John Morton Barber, recreates the southern end of Market Square/Commercial Place in 1887. Double-edged steam ferries shuttle back and forth across the Elizabeth River to Berkley and Portsmouth. The English ship Carnarvonshire is being towed into the harbor to load goods for her voyage across the Atlantic, and the side-wheel steamer Luray is carrying passengers downstream toward Town Point.

Erected by City of Norfolk.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1680.

Location. 36° 50.754′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

76° 17.321′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Downtown. It is on East Main Street west of Commercial Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norfolk VA 23510, 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,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: Lafayette's Tour (here, next to this marker); Col. Samuel Leroy Slover (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); East Main Street (about 500 feet away); Old City Hall and Courthouse, 1850

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, January 18, 2022

2. Commercial Place Marker

(about 600 feet away); Main Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Town Back Creek and Stone Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Bombardment of Norfolk, 1776 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elizabeth River (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,119 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.