Downtown in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Commercial Place
Photographed By Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
1. Commercial Place Marker
Inscription.
Commercial Place. . When a survey was done in 1680 to lay out the town of Norfolk, one of the few streets shown was “the street that leadeth to the water side.” The original location was just to the west of this site. It fanned out from Front (now Main) Street south to the Elizabeth River. As the new town developed, this area became its commercial hub. When a market was built here near Front Street in the early 1700’s the area became known as Market Square. At the river’s edge a ferry dock and commercial wharves developed. About 1900 the name changed again, to Commercial Place. This illustration “Old Norfolk Evening” by artist John Morton Barber, recreates the southern end of Market Square/Commercial Place in 1887. Double-edged steam ferries shuttle back and forth across the Elizabeth River to Berkley and Portsmouth. The English ship Carnarvonshire is being towed into the harbor to load goods for her voyage across the Atlantic, and the side-wheel steamer Luray is carrying passengers downstream toward Town Point.
When a survey was done in 1680 to lay out the town of Norfolk, one of the few streets shown was “the street that leadeth to the water side.” The original location was just to the west of this site. It fanned out from Front (now Main) Street south to the Elizabeth River. As the new town developed, this area became its commercial hub. When a market was built here near Front Street in the early 1700’s the area became known as Market Square. At the river’s edge a ferry dock and commercial wharves developed. About 1900 the name changed again, to Commercial Place. This illustration “Old Norfolk Evening” by artist John Morton Barber, recreates the southern end of Market Square/Commercial Place in 1887. Double-edged steam ferries shuttle back and forth across the Elizabeth River to Berkley and Portsmouth. The English ship Carnarvonshire is being towed into the harbor to load goods for her voyage across the Atlantic, and the side-wheel steamer Luray is carrying passengers downstream toward Town Point.
Erected by City of Norfolk.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1680.
Location. 36° 50.754′ N, 76° 17.321′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Downtown.
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Marker is on East Main Street west of Commercial Place, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 791 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.