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Hampton Roads Heritage Hunt: Newport News

Newport News Locations:

1) Lions Bridge, Mariners' Museum and Park

2) Huntington Park, 9285 Warwick Blvd

3) Victory Landing Park, 50 26th Street

4) Monitor-Merrimack Overlook Park, 16th Street 


Explorer in iron armor stands on the land with ships in the background
Caption: This mural by Allen D. Jones depicts Captain Christopher Newport along the banks of Newport News Point in 1607. “Newport Newes” is first introduced in 1619 in Virginia Company records. However, there is ongoing debate among historians as to whether or not Newport News was named for Christopher Newport.

 

Location: Lions Bridge

Mariners’ Museum and Park

Note: Take the J Clyde Morris South exit.

Title: Listen to this audio clip to learn about the Patriot and Cesar Tarrant.

side-view image of man with ascot
Caption: Cesar Tarrant was granted his freedom after serving in the Revolutionary War. Yet, Tarrant was one of few exceptions. Most Black Sailors who served during the Revolutionary War were denied their freedom.

 

Warning!

Lions Bridge is currently undergoing construction. Some, or all, of the answers to the questions below may not be obtainable. If the bridge is under construction, and you are unable to access the locations below, you may take a picture of the bridge from a safe location as proof you located the site.

Heritage Hunt Questions for Lions Bridge

20) Find the “Capture of the Patriot” historical marker and take a family photo.

21) It was near this location that the skirmish at Cedar Lane took place in July 1861 during the Civil War. What was the name of the English sea captain whose house the Steuben Guard fell back to as a result of Confederate Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood’s cavalry attack?

22) In 1781, during the Revolutionary War, a small militia repelled the British at Waters Creek. Who led the militia?

23) How many Xs are carved into Lion’s Bridge?


neighborhood of wooden homes
Caption: Hilton Village in 1918

 

Location: Huntington Park

9285 Warwick Boulevard

Take Notice: As you drive south on Warwick Boulevard toward Huntington Park, you will pass through Hilton Village. This was America’s first federal war-housing project. Originally, the community was established to house Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock company employees during WWI. It was sponsored by the U.S. Shipping Board and Newport News Shipyard.

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War occurred roughly between 1959 and 1975, in which 58,318 Americans lost their lives. Often overlooked, 229,000 Sailors served in Southeast Asia in the course of the Vietnam War. They gathered intelligence, conducted special operations, provided gunfire support, secured coastal waters and rivers, launched air attacks, and undertook various non-combat roles. In remembrance of all who served in Vietnam, and to help bind the nations wounds, several monuments were built in the decades that followed. Learn more about the Vietnam War Monument at Huntington Park by watching our Local History Spotlight.


A line of boats moves along the water with a sunset behind them
Caption: Armored Troop Carriers and Monitors move down the My Tho River during operation Coronado, 1967.

 

Heritage Hunt Questions for Huntington Park

24) Find the Vietnam Memorial and take a photo of the POW/MIA symbol.

25) In the same area as the Vietnam Memorial (within 30 yards), you will find the WWII U.S. Submarine Memorial. How many submarines did the United States lose in WWII?

26) Find the M53 Self-Propelled Gun. At a max range of 14.6 miles, how many rounds per minute could the weapon fire?

27) Find the 21 cm Mortar. Which country used it in WWI?

    a. U.S.

    b. Germany

    c. France

    d. Russia


a band and soldiers outside the WWI monument
Caption: Troops parade through the Victory Arch (circa 1919, after WWI).

 

Location: Downtown Newport News and the Victory Arch

Victory Landing Park: 50 26th Street

Title: Listen to this clip to learn about the history of the Victory Arch.

black and white photo showing military buildings at a camp
Caption: Panoramic photo of Camp Stuart (photo taken by E.P. Griffith, circa. 1901). Built on 309 acres, Camp Stuart was the biggest embarkation camp of the war. An estimated 115,000 troops passed through the camp during WWI.

 

Heritage Hunt Questions for the Victory Arch

28) Take a family photo under the Victory Arch.

29) How many “Roll of Honor” plaques are on the monument?

30) African Americans served in WWI honorably. There were, in fact, African-American regiments and battalions based here in Newport News. Those units were segregated at Camp Alexander. A separate ceremony was held for African Americans to receive their Newport News Victory Medals. Where was the ceremony held?

 

Check it out! If you follow the trail down to the river, look out into the James River, slightly to your left. The wooden ship USS Cumberland was sunk by the ironclad CSS Virginia on March 8, 1862, on the first day of the Battle of Hampton Roads at this approximate location.


Two ironclad ships fight in the front while wooden ships burn in the background
Caption: This lithograph shows the Battle of Hampton Roads, focusing on the fight between the two ironclad ships, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, on March 9, 1862.

 

Location: Monitor Merrimack Overlook Park

16th Street (Virginia Route 167)

 

The Battle of Hampton Roads, a naval battle between Union and Confederate ships, took place on March 8th and 9th of 1862. It was the first time ironclads met in battle. Learn about the Battle of Hampton Roads by watching our Local History Spotlight.

 

Heritage Hunt Questions for the Monitor-Merrimack Overlook Park

31) Find the map that displays the course of events in the Battle of Hampton Roads. If you are looking straight out into the river, where did USS Congress explode at midnight on March 9, 1862?

    a. To your right (southwest)

    b. Directly in front of you (east)

    c. To your left (northeast, towards the Chesapeake Bay)

32) Across the river, a little to your left, you can see Naval Station Norfolk. How many ships do you see at Naval Station Norfolk.

 

Your next city on the Heritage Hunt will be Hampton! Click here to go to the Hampton page. 

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Published: Wed Jun 26 14:50:20 EDT 2024