ROOTED HERE
The history of Norfolk
Downtown Norfolk's Elizabeth River waterfront, Ghent's tree-lined streets, the NEON arts district and the Chesapeake Bay beaches at Ocean View give the city very different places to start.
People who shaped Norfolk
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Norfolk History Films - Part 1
A local history film shared by Norfolk Community Television (NCTV).
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Norfolk
See all 48 famous people
- 1680
A town on the river
The House of Burgesses established the "Towne of Lower Norfolk County."
City reference ↗ - 1736
Royal borough
King George II granted Norfolk a royal charter as a borough.
City reference ↗ - 1776
Burned in the Revolution
Much of the town was destroyed in January 1776 during the Revolutionary War.
City reference ↗ - 1845
City of Norfolk
Norfolk was incorporated as a city.
City reference ↗ - 1907
Jamestown Exposition
The Jamestown Exposition opened at Sewell's Point, later the site of Naval Air Station Hampton Roads.
City reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk downtown and the Freemason Street historic district, then see St. Paul's Episcopal Church, built in 1739. Check current visiting hours before setting out.Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Norfolk library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 9, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.