Northampton County has a new historical driving tour, bringing drivers from the Southern Gateway Welcome Center by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel all the way to Willis Wharf. The tour is a celebration of local Revolutionary War era history and culture following the era’s themes of fierce independence, religious discord, political intrigue, protests, and privateering.
The United States’ Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, is rapidly approaching in 2026. Around the nation and the state, organizations are already gearing up for the special anniversary by developing exhibits, events, lectures, and more in celebration of our great nation’s inception and independence. Northampton County’s new tour is an exciting addition to these efforts.
This well-rounded tour has 15 stops each with audio guides, photographs, and primary sources that reveal the significance of these off-the-beaten path locations. A map view and driving directions guide users from one site to the next. Along the way, there is information about things to do and places to eat in between historic sites. Stops include notable places like Pear Valley, Arlington Plantation, and the Eastville Courthouse Green that each tell their own unique story.
For example, the last stop on the tour in Willis Wharf delves into the occupation of Hog Island by the British at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Small ships snuck onto the mainland during the night to steal supplies, even going so far as to take entire poultry flocks while they rested in their coops. In February 1783, six months before the end of the war, the Virginia militia attacked the British forces on Hog Island ultimately ending its British occupation.
The tour can be accessed through the Shore History App or through any browser. You can access the app by searching “Shore History” in the App Store or Google Play Store or by going to shorehistory.org and clicking “Visit” and then selecting “The Shore History App.” You can also visit Northampton250 page on the Northampton County website.
The Northampton VA250 Local Commission spearheaded the development of this self-guided tour with funding from the Northampton County Tourism Fund and the Virginia250 Grant Program administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Collaborators included Will Russell, Bill Nelson, Shore History, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission.