Town Point is where Norfolk began. In 1680 the General Assembly of his Majesty's Colony of Virginia enacted a law requiring each county to establish and develop a town site. In lower Norfolk County fifty acres of land at the entrance of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River were purchased from Nicholas Wise, thus assuring the town of good water access to the surrounding areas. County surveyor John Ferebee laid out Front Street (now Main Street) on high ground and the town was divided into half-acre sites for dwelling housed and warehouses.

The original town was almost completely surrounded by water, access by land was limited to a single road which later became Church Street (now Lower St. Paul's Boulevard). The town covered what is now the southern portion of downtown Norfolk, bounded generally by the river on the south and west, City Hall Avenue on the north and interstate 264 on the east.

The cannon displayed here were unearthed in 1982 from Otter Berth and Town Point Park. They are of Revolutionary War vintage and are of unknown foreign origin. The carriages were constructed of white oak to 18th century specifications by members of the Norfoks Rotary Club.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Norfolk, VA  |  23510  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

The First Battle of Ironclad Ships, 1862
Navy Escort Carriers Based in Norfolk
The Customhouse, 1859
Four Farthing or Town Point
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
Armed Forces Memorial
Main Street
Flood Protection for Downtown Norfolk
The Cedar
Granby Street

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.