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

Buckroe Beach

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 17, 2025

1. Buckroe Beach Marker

Inscription. Buck Roe, probably named for the Yorkshire, England, region of Buckrose, was a site of colonial experiments with wine and silk production in the 1620s. Buckroe plantation, located here and sustained by enslaved labor, was confiscated by the U.S. during the Civil War. Tourism began in the mid-1880s after Mary A, Herbert opened a beachside boarding house. In the 1890s, Hampton entrepreneur James S. Darling led development of a rail line, hotel, and park that later included an arcade, rides, and a carousel. On adjacent land, Black entrepreneurs led by Frank D. Banks built the Bay Shore Hotel. Buckroe Beach Amusement Park closed in 1985, and the City of Hampton created a public park and beach.

Erected 2023 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number WY-92.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • Notable Places • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1625.

Location. 37° 2.432′ N, 76° 17.495′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Buckroe Beach. It is at the intersection of South First Street and Buckroe

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Avenue, on the right when traveling east on South First Street. The marker is located in front of the Buckroe Beach Bandstand. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 S First 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, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Buckroe Beach (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Buckroe (about 300 feet away); Bay Shore Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away); Virginia Green Book Location (approx. ¼ mile away); Bay Shore Beach & Resort (approx. ¼ mile away); Harbor Defense Regimental Distinctive Insignia

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 17, 2025

2. Buckroe Beach Marker

(approx. 2 miles away); Chesapeake & Ohio (approx. 2.1 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 . . .
1. Buckroe Beach & Park. (Submitted on July 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Buckroe Beach, Hampton, Virginia (1890- ). (Submitted on July 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Buckroe Beach image. Click for full size.

3. Buckroe Beach

Aerial photograph of Buckroe Beach, featuring the pier and restaurant, circa late 1960’s.

Buckroe Beach, Virginia image. Click for full size.

“Tichnor Quality Views” Postcard by Dominion News Agency, Newport News, VA (copyright expired), circa 1940

4. Buckroe Beach, Virginia

“Tichnor Quality Views” Postcard by Dominion News Agency, Newport News, VA (copyright expired), circa 1940

5. Buckroe Beach, Virginia

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 17, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 4, 5. submitted on July 26, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.