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

Dale Point

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025

1. Dale Point Marker

Inscription.
Birth Place of Commodore Richard Dale, U.S.N.

Bon Nov. 6, 1756
Served as Lieutenant under John Paul Jones on the Bon Homme Richard

First commandant of the Gosport Navy Yard, now Norfolk Navy Yard.
Died at Philadelphia, Feb. 24, 1826

Erected 1928 by the Fort Nelson Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

Erected 1928 by Fort Nelson Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 6, 1756.

Location. 36° 50.463′ N, 76° 21.532′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is on Riverside Drive ¼ mile north of Sussex Drive, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on private property but viewable from the public road (cul-de-sac). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Riverside Drive, Portsmouth VA 23707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Craney Island (approx. half a mile away); General Lafayette Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); A Living Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Portsmouth Light Artillery Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sailors and Marines Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); V. C. Andrews Monument (approx. one mile away); Lest We Forget (approx. 1.1 miles away); Benedict Arnold at Portsmouth (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Additional commentary.
1. About Richard Dale
Richard Dale was a Revolutionary

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025

2. Dale Point Marker

Wide view of marker & surroundings in the Riverside Drive cul-de-sac.

War naval hero, John Paul Jones' 1st Lieutenant aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard during the duel with HMS Serapis, and later served as the first commandant of the Gosport Navy Yard (now the Norfolk Navy Yard). He also fought in the Barbary Wars in 1801. Five ships of the US Navy have been named in his honor - an 1839 sloop, three destroyers, and the destroyer leader/guided missile cruiser CG-19.

— Submitted February 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.