Hope Village in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Sail portion of the USS Thomas Jefferson

(SSBN 618) later SSN 618

— Path of History Portsmouth, VA —

Sail portion of the USS <i>Thomas Jefferson</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

1. Sail portion of the USS Thomas Jefferson Marker

Inscription. During USS Thomas Jefferson's 22 years of service, it was both a ballistic missile submarine and an attack vessel. Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company built USS Thomas Jefferson, which was commissioned on January 4th, 1963. The wife of then Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, was the ship's sponsor.
General Characteristics:
Length: 410 Feet • Beam: 33 feet • Crew: 12 officers, 128 enlisted • Propulsion: Nuclear powered • Decommissioned: January 24, 1985

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, Cold • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 2012.

Location. 36° 49.687′ N, 76° 17.839′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Hope Village. It can be reached from Lincoln Street east of 3rd Street, on the left when traveling east. Located in Gosport Park. 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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker

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also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Norfolk Naval Shipyard (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Additional commentary.
1. Repair planing
Most shipmates looking at this might wonder if anything is getting accomplished to repair our sail as it has gotten in sad shape. Shipmate Rod Rodriguez has been doing a great job tying politicians, shipyard and city officials to possibly restore our submarine sail to a great memorial again. Hats off to Rod for his great work.

— Submitted July 9, 2025, by Daniel Higgins of Barefoot Bay,, Florida.

Additional keywords.

Sail portion of the USS <i>Thomas Jefferson</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 1, 2014

2. Sail portion of the USS Thomas Jefferson

Sail portion of the USS Thomas Jefferson

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,559 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.