About

Established in 1610, Hampton is located in the center of Coastal Virginia. Hampton boasts a city rich in history and adventure, from the “Sea to the Stars.” Experience the sands of the wide open beaches on the Chesapeake Bay; tour the waterways on a harbor cruise and gaze at the cosmos at the Virginia Air and Space Science Center. Hampton’s business districts – Downtown, Phoebus and Coliseum Central offer culinary delights, shopping and great meeting and event spaces. A unique setting at the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the James River, Hampton has been at the forefront of fundamental milestones in our nation’s history. Experience this rich history by exploring Fort Monroe National Monument, the Hampton History Museum, Aberdeen Gardens and the Emancipation Oak.

Hampton in the American Revolution
The Battle of Hampton: The First Battle of the Revolutionary War outside New England

Fought October 26-27, 1775, the Battle of Hampton was the beginning of the Revolutionary War in Virginia. It was a turning point in Virginia’s transition from resistance to rebellion, and at its heart was a struggle for the meaning and experience of liberty. The Revolutionary War is a key part of Hampton’s “Arc of Freedom.”

The Battle of Hampton was a planned British naval attack on the town of Hampton, thwarted by local soldiers and sailors and troops sent from Williamsburg. Leading up to the battle, British officials demanded return of property taken from a grounded British ship, while local Patriots demanded that British officers return Joseph Harris and other enslaved people who had escaped and sought refuge aboard the British fleet. Joseph Harris was a skilled harbor pilot, and he and other Freedom Seekers played pivotal roles in the battle. Shortly afterward, Lord Dunmore drafted his proclamation formally offering freedom to enslaved people who would join the British.

Local Events

"Escape to Freedom" Annual Contraband Commemorative
May 18, 2024 - May 18, 2024
City of Hampton

This event will take place at the historic Chapel of the Centurion, 157 Bernard Road at Fort Monroe, and will pay tribute to the first three enslaved ... Read More

Blackbeard Pirate Festival
June 01, 2024
City of Hampton

June 1 @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm June 2 @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Once a year visitors from all over the country enjoy the sights and sounds of 18th century H... Read More

13th Annual International Day of Remembrance
June 08, 2024 - June 08, 2024
City of Hampton

Join The Sankofa Projects as they educate & celebrate the richness and diversity of the African diaspora and bring awareness to this tragic chapter in... Read More

African Landing Day
August 24, 2024
City of Hampton

August 24 @10:00 am - 6:00 pm August 25 @ 6:00 am - 8:00 am Join the Fort Monroe Authority, National Park Service, Project 1619, and the City of Ham... Read More