Wythe in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of Hampton Roads
About 3.5 miles south of here on 8-9 March 1862 occurred the first engagement between ironclad warships. On the battle's first day, Confederate ironclad ram Virginia sank two major warships and threatened the rest of the Union fleet in Hampton Roads. USS Monitor, an experimental ironclad, arrived that evening to defend the grounded USS Minnesota. The next day, the two ironclads fought for four hours, and the battle ended in a draw. This naval engagement led to a revolution in warship design by providing the power of iron over wood.
Erected 2025 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number W-84.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 8, 1862.
Location. 37° 0.154′ N, 76° 21.665′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Wythe. It is at the intersection of Chesapeake Avenue and East Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Chesapeake Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3533 Chesapeake Ave, Hampton VA 23661, 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 walking distance of this marker: Stalemate in Hampton Roads (a few steps from this
this page online
Other markers no longer nearby. First Battle of Ironclads (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Wythe's Birthplace (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
