There’s a rustic charm to Portsmouth, a historic naval city that winds along the Elizabeth River in Virginia. Gazing across the water to Norfolk, the city’s Olde Towne Historic District is one of the largest and best preserved in the southern states. Many of the naval buildings have an equally impressive sense of history, distinguished by faded red bricks and an old-world grandeur. Life continues to revolve around the water here, with public ferries taking passengers to Norfolk and old shipyards littered with woodenboats.
Olde Town Historic District enchants and enthrals, as the Greek-inspired neoclassical buildings standing amongst majestic cedar trees. With their red brick columns and imposing style, the Portsmouth Courthouse and Pass House are the most photographed of the buildings. A walk around this district reveals many memoirs to the mid 19th century. Hill House’s interior comes from the 19th century while the Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church is one of Virginia’s oldest black churches.
The most iconic way to arrive at this port city is by water, taking one of the small passenger boats across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. Portsmouth has had a railway station for almost 200 years, and there are regular buses towards nearby Hampton and Virginia Beach. Norfolk International Airport is 25 kilometres away and serves as the main airport for the city.
Portsmouth takes its name from a naval town on England’s south coast. A community of colonial farmers moved here in the early 17th century, and the iconic Gosport Shipyard was built in 1767. It was renamed Norfolk Naval Shipyard and is partially open to the public.