Western Branch South in Chesapeake, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Dale Point

Photographed by James Thomson

1. Dale Point Marker

Inscription. Just north is the birthplace of Commodore Richard Dale (6 Nov 1756 - 26 Feb 1826). He served on the United States brigantine Lexington. The British captured and wounded him several times during the Revolutionary War. Captain John Paul Jones chose him to be first lieutenant on the Bon Homme Richard. On 19 September 1779, the Bon Homme Richard defeated the British ship Serapis due largely to Dale's actions. He served as superintendent of the Norfolk Naval Yard in 1794. In 1801 he commanded a fleet of five vessels against the Barbary pirates. He later retired to Philadelphia.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-264.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary • 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 September 19, 1779.

Location. 36° 48.016′ N, 76° 23.519′ W. Marker is in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is in Western Branch South. It is on Airline Boulevard (U.S. 58) 0.1 miles east of Ahoy Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3940 Airline Boulevard, Chesapeake VA 23321, 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,

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of the Nansemond Indian Public School #9 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Sunray (approx. 1.6 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 2.3 miles away); V. C. Andrews Monument (approx. 2.3 miles away); Portsmouth Light Artillery Monument (approx. 2.7 miles away); A Living Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); General Lafayette Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Portsmouth* Gothic (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chesapeake.

Also see . . . Commodore Richard Dale, U.S.N. Biographies in Naval History - Naval History and Heritage Command. (Submitted on March 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Dale Point marker on Airline Blvd image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Thomson

2. Dale Point marker on Airline Blvd

Captain Richard Dale, USN (1756-1826) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by R.W. Dobson

3. Captain Richard Dale, USN (1756-1826)

Mid-Nineteenth Century engraving "by R.W. Dobson from a drawing by J.B. Longacre, after a Portait by J.Wood in Peale's Museum, New York". Naval History and Heritage Command NH 51764

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2011, by James Thomson of Chesapeake, United States. This page has been viewed 1,731 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 5, 2011, by James Thomson of Chesapeake, United States. 3. submitted on March 6, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.