Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Buckroe Beach

“Invigorating Saltwater Bathing”

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, October 12, 2023

1. Buckroe Beach Marker

Inscription.

Buckroe Beach. “Invigorating Saltwater Bathing”. , You are looking at America's first health resort. Buckroe Beach, named for Buckrose in Yorkshire, England, has been known since colonial days for its healthful climate and "invigorating saltwater bathing.", The name first appears in official records in 1617. It occupied part of a large plantation that the Virginia Company of London set aside. In 1620, the Company attempted to grow silk at Buckroe. The Frenchmen given the task failed to cultivate the industry or instruct others in the trade, and they were soon deported. By 1623, thirty colonists were listed as residing at Buckroe., The locale was mostly a fishing camp until after the Civil War when Mary Ann Dobbins Herbert obtained beachfront land. She opened a boarding house in 1883 and added a bathhouse for her guests and a pavilion for dancing. Soon after, Edward B. Chiles of Hampton built the first public bathhouse and brought patrons from town to the beach in horse-drawn wagons. Hampton oyster entrepreneur James S. Darling founded a street railway company and, in 1897, opened the Buckroe Beach Hotel and Pavilion. Soon, a rail spur of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway from Phoebus enabled special excursion trains to travel from Richmond to the resort and back on summer weekends., Soon to follow was the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park, with rides that included a carousel, roller coaster, "tunnel of love" and "aeroplane spin." There was an arcade, swimming pool, bathhouse and, near water's edge, a large dance pavilion. Other hotels, a casino and theater were added. Vaudeville acts at the casino were said to be "mirth-provoking to a high degree." Buckroe became one of the most popular vacation destinations on the East Coast, with an estimated half million visitors each year. A few blocks south, a separate beach and amusement park, Bayshore Beach and Resort, opened for African Americans. , Bringing History to Life , For more visitor information visit: www.VisitHampton.com , in partnership with Virginia Civil War Trails, www.civilwartrails.org. (captions) , Roller Coaster at the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection, Buckroe Beach Scene taken in 1910 Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection, Buckroe Beach Hotel Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection

You are looking at America's first health resort. Buckroe Beach, named for Buckrose in Yorkshire, England, has been known since colonial days for its healthful climate and "invigorating saltwater bathing."

The name first appears in official records in 1617. It occupied part of a large plantation that the Virginia Company of London set aside. In 1620, the Company attempted to grow silk at Buckroe. The Frenchmen given the task failed to cultivate the industry or instruct others in the trade, and they were soon deported. By 1623, thirty colonists were listed as residing at Buckroe.

The locale was mostly a fishing camp until after the Civil War when Mary Ann Dobbins Herbert obtained beachfront land. She opened a boarding house in 1883 and added a bathhouse for her guests and a pavilion for dancing. Soon after, Edward B. Chiles of Hampton built the first public bathhouse and brought patrons from town to the beach in horse-drawn wagons. Hampton oyster entrepreneur James S. Darling founded a street railway company and, in 1897, opened the Buckroe Beach Hotel and Pavilion. Soon, a rail spur of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway

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from Phoebus enabled special excursion trains to travel from Richmond to the resort and back on summer weekends.

Soon to follow was the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park, with rides that included a carousel, roller coaster, "tunnel of love" and "aeroplane spin." There was an arcade, swimming pool, bathhouse and, near water's edge, a large dance pavilion. Other hotels, a casino and theater were added. Vaudeville acts at the casino were said to be "mirth-provoking to a high degree." Buckroe became one of the most popular vacation destinations on the East Coast, with an estimated half million visitors each year. A few blocks south, a separate beach and amusement park, Bayshore Beach and Resort, opened for African Americans.
Bringing History to Life
For more visitor information visit: www.VisitHampton.com
in partnership with Virginia Civil War Trails, www.civilwartrails.org (captions)
Roller Coaster at the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection

Buckroe Beach Scene taken in 1910 Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection

Buckroe Beach Hotel Courtesy of the Hampton History Museum, Cheyne Collection

Erected by City

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, October 12, 2023

2. Buckroe Beach Marker

of Hampton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1617.

Location. 37° 2.454′ N, 76° 17.439′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Buckroe Beach. It can be reached from the intersection of South First Street and Buckroe Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 S 1st St, Hampton VA 23664, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

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 3 miles of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Buckroe Beach (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Buckroe (about 600 feet away); Bay Shore Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Virginia Green Book Location (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bay Shore Beach & Resort (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harbor Defense Regimental Distinctive Insignia (approx. 2.1 miles away); Chesapeake & Ohio (approx. 2.2 miles away); Phoebus - The Gateway To The New World (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Also see . . . Buckroe Beach and Park. (Submitted on October 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,126 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.