The first picture shows the two routes cruisers can take thru northern North Carolina and Virginia to get to Norfolk VA.
We stayed in Portsmouth so we could sight see these two cities. After doing some errands we took the ferry to Norfolk to walk the Waterside and neighboring parks. They were setting up for a big event with a sound stage and tents. Norfolk is a big city which is an interesting juxtaposition of old hotel and storefronts with very modern office towers. The naval presence is quite evident with the naval shipyard dry docks which we can see from our slip and another naval ship yard further up the river.
We went into the Nauticus Museum and boarded the USS Wisconsin which is moored there permanently. The ship would have been in service during WWII in the Pacific when my dad was in the navy and stationed at Kaneohe Bay. The ship was open to visitors to walk the deck and upper structures and we lucked out to be able to tour the second deck(which is one deck below the main deck-kitchen chapel, living quarters, maintenance areas, communications, doctors offices, etc.). Bill took lots of pictures! The USS Wisconsin did tours of duty in the Pacific theatre in WWII, Vietnam and off Kuwait. Was interesting how the ship changed to match the needs at the time.
After we toured the ship we walked through the naval museum called Nauticus and learned about how the Navy was involved in all the conflicts from the Revolutionary War to War of 1812, how two navies fought each other in the Civil War, then the WWI, WWII conflicts and the Vietnam War and Gulf War. Learned a lot about how the navy adapted to the river warfare which was integral in Vietnam.
We then had lunch in one of the Waterside Restaurants- had a delicious crab cake. Had to get ready to enter the Chesapeake Bay! As we ate it was interesting to watch the parade of boats from barges, to pleasure boats of all shapes and sizes, to tugs and workboats.
Took the ferry back to Portsmouth and viewed the Lightship Portsmouth which is on display. This ship was tasked with being a floating beacon to guide ships around the Stone Horse Shoal in Massachusetts during the ship’s service from 1916 to 1964. Basically the ship was a floating lighthouse with a Fresnal lense mounted on the ship’s tall mast and was worked by Navy and the later Coast Guard personnel.
Took a break from walking to plan the next two weeks as we travel through the Chesapeake Bay. We then walked back into Portsmouth to look at the historic area - neat old homes and churches and store fronts.
Fun facts about Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the oldest naval shipyard in the US
America’s first ferry service started crossing the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth in 1636. You can still cross the river by ferry today.
Emanuel African Methodist Church on North Street served as an important secret hideaway for the Underground Railroad
Portsmouth sits at mile marker zero on the Intracoastal Waterway- halfway between Maine and Miami.
In 1833, America’s first dry dock opened at Portsmouth Gosport Navy Yard and it is still in use today.
Form 1919 to 1922, the US Navy converted the ship Jupiter into the first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley at the naval yard in Portsmouth.
Picture of our boat at the marina at night and the wildlife that swam up to us during our visit here.
