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

The 1846 Courthouse

Path of History

— Portsmouth, VA —

The 1846 Courthouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

1. The 1846 Courthouse Marker

Inscription. The 1846 Courthouse building at the corner of Court & High Street in Olde Towne Portsmouth was designed in the classic Greek Revival style by architect, William R. Singleton and built by Willoughby G. Butler. It housed the Norfolk County Court until the Court’s relocation to Chesapeake in 1963. In 1970, the Courthouse was registered as a historic landmark and placed on the Virginia and National Registry of Historic Places.

A grand opening on July 4, 1984, heralded its new use as the Community Arts Center and Children's Museum of Virginia. John Paul Hanbury of Portsmouth was the architect for renovation of the building.

Today, it serves as a museum which offers arts programs, workshops and rotating visual arts and humanities exhibits.

(captions)
(left) To the left of the 1846 Courthouse is the Norfolk County Clerk's Ofﬁce. To the rear is the 1912 Municipal Building.
(right)The original 1846 Courthouse

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1868.

Location. 36° 50.144′ N, 76° 18.064′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is on Court Street north of High Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23704, 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 walking distance of this marker: Norfolk County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Towne Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Court Street Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Commodore Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Court Street Baptist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Col. Bernard Magnien (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Trinity Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Confederate Monument (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Court Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

2. Court Street

Norfolk County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

3. Norfolk County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 875 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.