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- Founded in 1610, Hampton is a city of firsts — the first continuous English-speaking settlement was established here, America's first free public education was offered here, and NASA trained its first astronauts here in Hampton.
hampton.gov/91/History-of-City
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Founded in 1610, Hampton is a city of firsts — the first continuous English-speaking settlement was established here, America's first free public education was offered here, and NASA trained its first astronauts here in Hampton.
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- Local Medal of Honor Recipient
- It’S Steeped in History
- It’S Home to The Virginia Air & Space Center
- Its Old Fort Is Free to Visit
- Its Phoebus Neighborhood Is Charming
- You Can Take A Tour of The Harbor and Chesapeake Bay
- It’S Got A Vibrant Downtown Area
- You Can Sample Fresh Seafood
- There Are Festivals All Year Long
The city of Hampton was founded in 1610 and is a true city of firsts. It was America’s first English-speaking settlement, the first place in the United States to offer free public education, and the location where NASA’s first astronauts trained. The Hampton History Museumtraces the long history of the city, from its English roots to its Native Ame...
The Virginia Air & Space Center is the official visitor center of the NASA Langley Research Center. Visitors can explore more than 100 hands-on exhibits, including the Be An Astronaut exhibit, with its space mission simulations, and the Inflatable Lunar Habitatexhibit, where you can imagine life in a futuristic space colony. Also at the center are ...
Fort Monroe — named for James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States — took 15 years to build, starting in 1819. It was an active fort until 2011, when it was decommissioned after 188 years and opened to the public. Now it’s a vibrant public area that’s free to visit, with an abundance of history, walking paths with stunning views, restau...
In Hampton, you can experience the charming neighborhood of Phoebus, known for its architecture, art, shopping, and unique dining options. The owners of Mango Mangeaux, a vibrant mango-themed restaurant, started out making their own preserves to sell at farmers markets. Their preserves were featured on ABC’s Shark Tank. While they didn’t partner wi...
At the Hampton Maritime Center, you can check in for a cruise on the Miss Hampton II. This double-decker boat offers daily narrated cruises of the Hampton Roads Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. On the tour, you’ll see fishing boats and commercial cargo ships, plus sites like Blackbeard’s Point, the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, and the world’s largest na...
Take a ride on the Hampton Carousel, one of only 70 antique wooden merry-go-rounds still operating in the U.S. The carousel, open year-round, is completely restored and safe from the elements inside a protected pavilion. Head to Queens Way downtown for lunch or dinner at Brown Chicken Brown Cow, a hip spot for grass-fed and finished burgers and bar...
Considering Hampton’s location, it’s no surprise that the coastal city’s seafood restaurants don’t disappoint. Deadriseat Old Point Comfort Marina serves up fresh catches with unrivaled views. Dinner at sunset on the deck is simply divine. At Graham & Rollins, a family-owned company since 1942, you can buy a fresh catch at the market or step next d...
Hampton hosts festivals all year long. The Hampton Jazz Festival in June and the Coastal Virginia Bluegrass & Brew Festival in January draw big crowds, but there’s nothing quite as unique and fun as the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, when Hampton is overtaken by pirates. Pirate reenactors in full costume take you back in time to the busy port of times...
Hampton traces its history to the city's Old Point Comfort, the home of Fort Monroe for almost 400 years, which was named by the 1607 voyagers, led by Captain Christopher Newport, who first established Jamestown as an English colonial settlement.
Hampton originated around Fort Algernourne (now Fort Monroe), built in 1609 on the site of the village of Kecoughtan, named for the tribe that inhabited it, to protect the area from Spanish raiders. Permanent settlement dates from 1610, which makes it the nation’s oldest continuously settled community of English origin.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Hampton traces its history to the city's Old Point Comfort, the home of Fort Monroe for almost 400 years, which was named by the 1607 voyagers, led by Captain Christopher Newport, who first established Jamestown as an English colonial settlement.
Jun 19, 2024 · Hampton is a city with a rich and significant history. It has been the site of many important events in American history, including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. In 1775, British ships attacked the Virginia Navy ported at Hampton, but they were repelled by local militia troops.
Hampton, Virginia, a mid-size city (138,000 population) located on the Chesapeake Bay, is notable for its many “firsts.” It is the oldest continuous English-speaking settlement in the country, the first community to establish a public education system, and the home of Langley Air Force Base, where the first astronauts trained.
