Town Point Park in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Downtown Waterfront Revitalization

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 4, 2007

1. Downtown Waterfront Revitalization Marker

Inscription. In the 1950s the downtown waterfront contained an assortment of aging facilities-wharves, warehouses, rail lines, ship chandlers, tugboat operations, and ferry docks. The city of Norfolk made a significant decision. An area of downtown along the Elizabeth River should be transformed from a working waterfront into a public waterfront. As the old was cleared, the new appeared, beginning with the public esplanade and hotel in 1974. The first Harborfest celebration in 1977 demonstrated that public attractions could help revitalize downtown. Town Point Park and the Waterside Festival marketplace opened in 1983. Nauticus, the national Maritime Center, anchored the west end of the waterfront in 1994.

The three cannons at the head of Otter Berth were found during the dredging of this part of the waterfront in 1982. They are of unknown foreign origin, but their vintage is compatible with the bombardment of Norfolk on January 1, 1776. Otter Berth is named for HMS Otter, one of Lord Dunmore’s ships that bombarded Norfolk on January 1, 1776.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce

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• Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Norfolk Heritage Cannonball Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1942.

Location. 36° 50.793′ N, 76° 17.718′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Town Point Park. It can be reached from Waterside Drive near Boush Avenue. This marker is located on a dock at the Waterside Shopping area. 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

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, January 18, 2022

2. Downtown Waterfront Revitalization Marker

walking distance of this marker: Half Moone Fort, 1673 (a few steps from this marker); Armed Forces Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Armed Forces Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The “Apprentice” (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cedar (within shouting distance of this marker); Surveying the Land & Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Battle of Ironclad Ships, 1862 (within shouting distance of this marker); Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

More about this marker. This marker is part of the Norfolk Heritage Cannonball Trail.

Red Cannon near Joes Crab Shack image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

3. Red Cannon near Joes Crab Shack

They are of Revolutionary War vintage and are of unknown foreign origin.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

4. Cannon

They are of Revolutionary War vintage and are of unknown foreign origin.

Town Point Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Troy, November 4, 2007

5. Town Point Park

Red Cannon near Joes Crab Shack at Waterside Market Place image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

6. Red Cannon near Joes Crab Shack at Waterside Market Place

The Tourists image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

7. The Tourists

Chaim Cross American, B. 1904 The Tourists Bronze On loan from the Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia: Gift of the Artist

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

8. Nauticus

Naval Museum & Anchor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

9. Naval Museum & Anchor

Town Point Park Renovation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

10. Town Point Park Renovation

South Waterfront Improvements image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

11. South Waterfront Improvements

Dedicated to the citizens of Norfolk October 16, 1983

Norfolk 1862 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

12. Norfolk 1862

Waterfront ~Marina image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

13. Waterfront ~Marina

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,932 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 11, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on September 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 5. submitted on November 11, 2007, by Laura Troy of Burke, Virginia. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on September 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.