Colonial Williamsburg Turns 100: A Day Trip From Hampton Roads to Celebrate a Century of Living History
Colonial Williamsburg is marking its 100th anniversary — and for Hampton Roads locals, this milestone is worth celebrating in person. Here's why the centennial matters to our region and what makes the trip from Virginia Beach well worth your time.
First Landing State Park: The Day England First Touched America (Then Got Shot At)
On April 26, 1607, 104 English colonists stepped ashore at Cape Henry — and within hours, they were under attack by the Chesapeake tribe. That night, they debated turning back. They didn't. Here's the story behind First Landing State Park and why it matters to everyone who lives near it today.
A Look Back at Virginia Beach History: From Resort Town to Independent City
Before Virginia Beach became one of the largest cities by land area in the United States, it was a sleepy seaside resort where Norfolkians rode the train to escape the summer heat. Here's the story of how a small beach community grew into an independent city of nearly half a million people — and why that history still shapes the neighborhoods you live in today.
The 100th Annual Hampton Cup Regatta Is Coming — Why This Race Matters to Hampton Roads
The Hampton Cup Regatta turns 100 in September 2026 — making it one of the oldest powerboat races in the country and a genuine point of pride for Hampton Roads. Here's why this milestone matters to locals and what it says about the region we call home.
Why Hampton Is One of the Most Historically Significant Cities in America — And What That Means for Our Community
Most people drive through Hampton without realizing they're passing through ground zero of American history. This is the site of the first continuous English-speaking settlement in the country — and understanding that story changes how you see this place entirely.
The Wreck of the Dictator: The True Story Behind Virginia Beach's Free Summer Show
On March 3, 1891, a Norwegian sailing ship went down off the Virginia Beach coast in one of the most dramatic maritime disasters in Hampton Roads history. Every summer, that story comes alive for free on the Boardwalk — and it's one worth knowing before you go.
The Big Dome: How Norfolk Scope Was Born from Post-War Revitalization and What It Still Means Today
In 1968, construction crews broke ground on a massive domed arena on the north edge of downtown Norfolk — the boldest bet the city had ever made on its own future. Understanding why Norfolk built the Scope, and what it was meant to save, puts today's redevelopment debates in a very different light.
When the Virginian-Pilot Left: What Losing a Major Newsroom Meant for Hampton Roads
In 2020, Tribune Publishing merged the Virginian-Pilot's newsroom with the Daily Press in Newport News — pulling the paper of record off Southside soil for the first time in decades. Three mayors tried to stop it. Here's what that moment meant, and what it still says about how Hampton Roads advocates for itself.
The Battle of Midway's Local Connection: How NAS Oceana and Hampton Roads Shaped Naval Aviation History
The Battle of Midway isn't just a chapter in history books — it's a story with deep roots right here in Hampton Roads. COMNAVAIRLANT's annual commemoration at NAS Oceana connects Virginia Beach to one of the most pivotal air-sea battles of World War II, and that legacy continues to shape our community today.
A Complete History of Hurricanes in Hampton Roads: Every Major Storm That Has Hit Our Region
From the catastrophic 1903 Cape Henry hurricane to Isabel's record-setting storm surge in 2003, Hampton Roads has taken direct hits from some of the Atlantic's most powerful storms. This is the definitive local guide to every major hurricane and tropical storm that has shaped our coastline, flooded our streets, and influenced the flood maps that affect your insurance costs today.
The Battle of the Virginia Capes: The Hampton Roads Battle That Helped Win American Independence
On September 5, 1781, a naval battle fought right off the coast of what is now Virginia Beach changed the course of American history. Most people have never heard of it. Here's why they should.
America's 250th Anniversary in Virginia Beach: How Our City Is Celebrating the Nation's Founding
July 4, 2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence — and Virginia Beach has a uniquely powerful role in that story. Here's what the semiquincentennial means for our community and how Hampton Roads is marking the occasion.
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: How a Simple Wooden Promenade Became the Heart of Our City
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk didn't start as an icon — it started as a few planks laid down to keep sand out of the hotels. Over more than a century, it grew into one of America's great public spaces and the anchor of our entire Oceanfront economy. Here's how it happened, and why it still matters.
A History Lover's Guide to Norfolk: The Must-Visit Sites Every Local Should See at Least Once
Norfolk has been shaping American history since 1682 — and most locals drive past the evidence every single day without stopping. With VA250 celebrations in full swing, here's your guide to the sites, stories, and landmarks that make this city unlike anywhere else on the East Coast.
The Eastlake Murder Trial and Other Forgotten Stories from Norfolk County's Past
Some of the most compelling chapters in Hampton Roads history never made the textbooks. From the murder of Margaret Eastwood to the Ballad of Berkeley Muse, these forgotten Norfolk County stories connect us to the people and places that shaped this region long before it became what it is today.
Why Don't Hampton Roads Cities Work Together? The History Behind the Region's Rivalry
Hampton Roads is seven cities sharing the same waterways, the same military economy, and the same traffic headaches — so why do they have such a hard time cooperating? Barry Jenkins breaks down the historical roots of the region's famous rivalry and what it means for residents today.
Why Is It Called Hampton Roads? The History Behind Our Region's Unique Name
Every newcomer asks it. Most locals can't fully answer it. The name 'Hampton Roads' is older than the United States itself — and the story behind it connects directly to the water, the ships, and the colonial history that shaped everything about where we live today.
The Real Ichabod Crane Was Born Here: Norfolk's Surprising Tie to 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'
Most people think Ichabod Crane is pure fiction — a lanky schoolteacher dreamed up by Washington Irving. But the real Ichabod Crane was an actual person, and his story has a surprising connection to Norfolk, Virginia. Here's the history most Hampton Roads residents never learned.
Blackbeard's Head Hung on a Pole: The Pirate History Hidden in Hampton Roads
November 22, 1718. A naval officer sailed into Hampton harbor with a severed head hanging from his bow. The spot where Blackbeard's head was displayed on a pole still has a name on local maps today — and most Hampton Roads residents have no idea.
Naval Station Norfolk History: How the World's Largest Naval Base Was Built in 6 Months on a World's Fair Site
In 1917, the U.S. Navy needed a major East Coast base — fast. What they found was an abandoned World's Fair site on Sewell's Point in Norfolk, and what they built there in under six months became the largest naval installation on Earth. Here's the story every Hampton Roads resident should know.
World War II Came to the Virginia Beach Shoreline — And Vacationers Watched It Happen
In the summer of 1942, beachgoers on the Virginia Beach shoreline watched tankers burn just offshore while German U-boats prowled the Atlantic almost completely unchallenged. It's one of the most visceral chapters of World War II — and almost nobody who lives here knows it happened.
The Day Two Iron Ships Changed Naval Warfare Forever — 5 Miles from Downtown Norfolk
On March 8, 1862, a Confederate ironclad steamed into Hampton Roads and sank two Union warships in a single afternoon — the worst naval disaster of the Civil War. The next morning, history changed again. The Battle of Hampton Roads Monitor Merrimack history is woven into the very water Hampton Roads residents live beside today.
The 34-Foot Sea Monster on Our Beach: The Story Behind the King Neptune Statue in Virginia Beach
Most locals have walked past him a hundred times without knowing the whole story. The King Neptune statue at 31st Street was cast in China in 120 days, shipped across the ocean, and planted at the edge of the Atlantic — and he's been watching over the boardwalk ever since. Here's the history behind Virginia Beach's most iconic landmark.