In January 1776, British naval forces commanded by Lord Dunmore shelled Norfolk from the Elizabeth River and burned much of the city to the ground. What the British didn't finish, patriot forces did — destroying Loyalist property along the waterfront. The city that exists today was rebuilt from nearly nothing. That story of destruction and rebuilding is threaded through nearly every historic landmark still standing here, and it's one reason Norfolk carries more history per square mile than most cities twice its size.
If you live in Hampton Roads, work here, or are thinking about putting down roots, understanding the landmarks worth knowing in Norfolk gives you a different relationship with the place. These aren't just stops on a tour. They're the bones the city grew around.
Fort Norfolk and the Long History of the Elizabeth River
Fort Norfolk, built in 1794 on orders from President George Washington, is the oldest surviving military installation in the Hampton Roads region. It sits at the edge of the Lafayette River's confluence with the Elizabeth, and it has watched the city grow up around it for more than two centuries.
The fort never saw a major battle, but it served during the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars. The Army Corps of Engineers has occupied the site since 1987, which is part of why the earthworks and original buildings are still intact. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District offers public tours of the fort on a seasonal basis.
For anyone interested in the historic landmarks worth knowing in Norfolk, Fort Norfolk is the place to start. It puts the whole timeline in context — from the early federal period through the 20th century — and it sits in a part of the city that has changed dramatically while the fort itself has stayed exactly where Washington put it.
The Freemason District and What Survived the Fire
The Freemason Historic District is the oldest residential neighborhood in Norfolk. The streets here date to the 18th century, and several of the row houses predate or closely follow the 1776 fire. Walking through Freemason puts you on the same blocks where merchants and ship captains lived during the period when Norfolk was one of the busiest ports on the Atlantic coast.
The neighborhood sits just north of downtown, bordered roughly by Freemason Street, Boush Street, and the Elizabeth River waterfront. The architecture spans Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian styles, which tells you something about how long this area has been continuously occupied. People kept building here across generations, and the streetscape reflects that.
Freemason is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also a working neighborhood today — people live in those row houses, and restaurants and offices fill some of the ground floors. The history isn't behind glass. It's the actual building you're having lunch inside.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church: The Cannonball Is Still in the Wall
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, built in 1739, is the only structure in downtown Norfolk that survived the 1776 burning. That alone makes it remarkable. What makes it unforgettable is that a British cannonball from Lord Dunmore's bombardment is still embedded in the church's southeast wall. It has been there for nearly 250 years.
The church stands at the corner of St. Paul's Boulevard and City Hall Avenue, directly across from City Hall. Services still take place there. The congregation has been continuous since the colonial period, making St. Paul's one of the oldest active parishes in Virginia.
The churchyard contains some of the oldest grave markers in the city. Several date to the early 1700s, before the church building itself was completed. For anyone tracing Norfolk's history, this is ground zero.
Why It Still Matters Today
Norfolk has been a port city, a military hub, and a commercial center at different points across three and a half centuries. The historic landmarks worth knowing in Norfolk are not relics from a finished story. They're reference points for understanding how the city keeps changing while remaining anchored to the same geography, the same waterways, and in some cases the same streets.
For people buying or renting here, this history shapes the built environment in concrete ways. Older neighborhoods have denser street grids, narrower lots, and architectural character that newer construction can't replicate. Knowing what stood where — and why — helps you read a neighborhood more accurately than any listing description will.
If you want to learn more about what makes Norfolk's communities distinct, the Norfolk community page is a good place to look at how history and current real estate intersect across different parts of the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest building still standing in Norfolk, Virginia?
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, built in 1739, is widely recognized as the oldest surviving structure in downtown Norfolk. It is the only building that survived the 1776 burning of the city by British and patriot forces.
Can you visit Fort Norfolk?
Fort Norfolk is an active U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility, but it does open for public tours on a seasonal basis. The Corps of Engineers manages the site and coordinates access. Checking with the Norfolk District office directly is the best way to confirm current tour availability.
Is the Freemason Historic District a good area to explore on foot?
Freemason is a walkable neighborhood with a compact street grid and a high concentration of 18th and 19th century architecture. The district sits close to the Elizabeth River waterfront and downtown Norfolk, so combining a walk through Freemason with the nearby waterfront area covers a significant stretch of the city's history in a short distance.
Sources
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District
• National Register of Historic Places
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Norfolk
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