Port Norfolk in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Benedict Arnold at Portsmouth
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 12, 2014
1. Benedict Arnold at Portsmouth Marker
Arnold, after going over to the British, was sent to Virginia to make war on the state. He reached Hampton Roads in December, 1780, raided to Richmond and came to Portsmouth, January 19, 1781. Establishing his headquarters in Patrick Robinson's house, and using the old sugar house on Crawford Street as a prison and barracks, Arnold remained here until spring. Then again he went up the James to open the fateful campaign of 1781 that won the war for America. (Marker Number Q 8E.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 19, 1781.
Location. 36° 51.25′ N, 76° 20.068′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Port Norfolk. It is at the intersection of Bayview Boulevard and Maryland Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Bayview Boulevard. Located in Bayview Park, on the walking path across from Maryland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23707, 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. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sailors and Marines Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Israel Charles Norcom High School (approx. 1.4 miles away); War of 1812 Elizabeth River Defenses/War of 1812
this page online
More about this marker. This marker appears to have lost the year it was cast when it was repaired. It is listed in the 1985 A Guidebook to Virginias Historical Markers by Margaret T. Peters, but is not present in the 1948 version of State Historical Markers of Virginia, the sixth and last edition issued by the Department of Conservation and Development. We have not found a Virginia marker is all capital letters made after 1965, so this narrows the year it was cast as between 1948 and 1965.
Also see . . . Gen Benedict Arnold. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on February 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, February 12, 2014
2. Benedict Arnold at Portsmouth Marker
Photographed by H.B. Hall
3. Benedict Arnold
Copy of engraving by H. B. Hall after John Trumbull, published 1879., 1931 - 1932
Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,367 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
