The U.S. may not be as ancient as some of the other places in the world, but we still have a rich and fascinating history. If you’re a history buff who loves wandering through museums, old buildings, and significant cultural places, you’re going to dig Chesapeake, Virginia. We at Priority Toyota Chesapeake are proud of our unique heritage and look forward to sharing it with you. These are three historic places near Chesapeake that are definitely worth a visit.
Fort Monroe Casemate Museum
Fort Monroe is the biggest and one of the oldest stone forts in the U.S. Originally, it was used to protect the Hampton Roads Waterway from possible attacks from the enemy. Inside the fort is the popular Casemate Museum, which pays tribute to the fort’s military history.
Completed in 1834, the museum is home to the room where Jefferson Davis was briefly held as prisoner after the Civil War. One of the most intriguing aspects of the museum is how it honors the “Contraband of War,” which was a military act that granted slaves sanctuary at the fort. This is how Fort Monroe got the nickname of the “Freedom’s Fortress.”
Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum
If you enjoy trains, then the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum is a must-see attraction for you. It has an extensive collection of artifacts from the Seaboard Airline Railroad along with items from the Norfolk Railroad, Virginian Railway, and the Western Railroad. It also contains some fascinating items from the Danville and Atlantic Railroad. You’ll see intriguing antiques such as railroad lanterns, bells, tools, dishes and silver items from the fancier dining cars of days gone by, and even old marketing signs and collectibles. Kids of all ages enjoy the many cool model trains on display.
Virginia War Museum
The importance of our American military history is clear when you visit the Virginia War Museum. Established back in 1923 by the American Legion Post #25, this museum showcases an incredible array of war memorabilia, including uniforms, recruiting posters, guns and other weapons, soldiers’ personal items, military vehicles, and more. It covers the years of 1775 all the way to modern times.
Have you ever laid eyes on the Berlin Wall? You can see a piece of it at the Virginia War Museum as well as a portion taken from the outer wall of the Dachau Concentration Camp. Not to be forgotten, there is an art gallery that pays tribute to Women at War and highlights the roles of many important women who contributed to American wars.
Museums are a great way to learn about our history. They also tend to put our present and future into a different perspective. They remind of where we’ve been and how we got here. Reminiscing about important aspects of our history makes us feel more grateful for the things we have and the things we’ve accomplished as a nation. It brings us all closer somehow. That is why we recommend visiting these three historic places near Chesapeake.
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