Local History Videos

Illustrated bird'e-eye view of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, published in 1873

Old Images of Norfolk, Virginia

Illustrated bird'e-eye view of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, published in 1873

Glimpse history through fascinating old images of Norfolk, Virginia.

Old Photos of Norfolk, Va

Old photo of Alfred Waud sitting on rubble at the ruined docks of the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, taken during the American Civil War in December 1864
Old photo of Alfred Waud sitting on rubble at the ruined docks of the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, taken during the American Civil War in December 1864. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Old photo of the harbour at Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1896
Old photo of the harbour at Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1896. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Old photo of Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1897
Old photo of Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1897. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Closeup of an old photo of Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1897
Closeup of an old photo of Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken in 1897. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo of the outside of the market at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1897
Old photo of the outside of the market at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1897. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Closeup of an old photo of the outside of the market at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1897
Closeup of an old photo of the outside of the market at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1897. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Old photo of the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1902
Old photo of the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1902. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Closeup of an old photo of the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1902
Closeup of an old photo of the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1902. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo of Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905
Old photo of Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905. From the archives of the Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Closeup of an old photo of Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905
Closeup of an old photo of Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905. From the archives of the Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Old photo of Commercial Place in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905
Old photo of Commercial Place in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Closeup of an old photo of Commercial Place in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905
Closeup of an old photo of Commercial Place in Norfolk, Virginia, taken around 1905. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Closeup of the cotton docks at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around the beginning of the 20th Century
Closeup of the cotton docks at Norfolk, Virginia, taken around the beginning of the 20th Century. From the archives of the Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Norfolk, VA 1897-1917

Each of these old photos of Norfolk, Virginia, was taken between 1897 and 1917.

Labels are added, so you always know the location and date of the old photo.

Old photos of Norfolk(Virginia) 1897-1917 – oldstuff4all on YouTube

1932 Ship Blaze

In 1932, the 11,000 ton liner called Segovia was about to make her maiden voyage from Norfolk, Va.

She was one of six liners built under The Merchant Marine Act of 1928 (the “Jones-White Act”), a United States law to stimulate private shipbuilding in the United States and to assist the merchant marine financially in being competitive in the emerging global market.

The Segovia had been christened by Lou Hoover, wife of the 31st president of the United States Herbert Hoover, the previous August.

But shortly before completion, the pride of the American Mercantile Fleet caught fire at daybreak. Despite the efforts of the firefighters, the vessel was badly damaged and then capsized.

The newsreel shows a group of men standing on the side of the upturned liner.

Million Pound Ship Ablaze! (1932) – British Pathé on YouTube

1950s Granby Street

This is a modern day narration over 1950s film footage of sailors enjoying their night out in Granby Street.

The city councilman supported the downtown development project, which aimed to sweep away the old buildings and their undesirable dive bars. In their place were to be modern buildings and professional jobs.

Idle Edsel’s Sailor Dive Memoirs, 1950’s Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia – idle edsel on YouTube

1950s Granby Street

This is a modern day narration over 1950s film footage of sailors enjoying their night out in Granby Street.

The city councilman supported the downtown development project, which aimed to sweep away the old buildings and their undesirable dive bars. In their place were to be modern buildings and professional jobs.

WAVY Archive: 1978 Norfolk’s Church Street Redevelopment – WAVY TV 10 on YouTube

Then in 1981, there were hopes to make Church Street an Enterprise Zone, whereby businesses (“businessmen”) moving to the area would receive tax relief and other incentives.

The Republican candidate Marshall Coleman came to inspect Church Street with Norfolk’s Mayor Vince Thomas.

Because of this, the news team recorded some of the street’s buildings before they were almost all torn down.

WAVY Archive: 1981 Norfolk’s Church Street – WAVY TV 10 on YouTube

The same year, it was proposed that $200,000 should be paid to outside consultants (instead of NRA staff) to drive the redevelopment of the Huntersville Section of Church Street.

WAVY Archive: 1981 Norfolk Huntersville Section Church Street – WAVY TV 10 on YouTube

Granby Mall 1979

The Mall part of Granby Street was created across a five block site between Bute Street and City Hall Avenue, when pedestrian walkways and containerized trees replaced the traditional roads. The traditional store fronts were left intact, albeit with modern designs.

The city’s Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and some local merchants were worried about the declining retail investment, and hired a New York consultant who proposed a facelift on one of the city’s oldest shopping districts.

Interestingly, the $100,000 project had a focus on taking buildings back to their original beauty, removing the modern facades of the storefronts.

At the time, the new Federal Building and the Freemason Harbour Project were still under construction nearby.

WAVY Archive: 1979 Norfolk Granby Mall – WAVY TV 10 on YouTube

More Old Pictures of Norfolk, VA

Old Norfolk in Virginia, USA, enjoyed through historic photos, vintage pictures & archive film. Browse history in these fascinating old images of a bygone era on my Pinterest board at https://uk.pinterest.com/LocalHistoryVideos/norfolk-virginia-old-photos-pictures/

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About the author

Hi, I’m Debbie. I’ve enjoyed books, films, and documentaries about history for more than 30 years. My favourite trips with friends and family are to museums, historic houses, archaeological sites, and I love unearthing old photos and archive film bringing history to life.

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