About

Newport News is rich with history since the English settlers arrived in 1607. Captain Christopher Newport’s expedition landed at the future site of Newport News Point in search of fresh water. Tobacco cultivation in the early 1600s led to the settlement and establishment of Warwick County by 1634. The Carys, Harwoods, and Mathews families had strong imperial ties and held important offices for the Crown and the colony. The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 history of Newport News is less familiar than the Civil War. Newport News had a significant role in the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 with over 150,000 Union and Confederate soldiers facing each other along the Warwick-Yorktown Line (Newport News Park). The Union and Confederate forces also deployed balloons, ironclads, and landmines during the Peninsula Campaign. The Post-Civil War era into the twentieth century saw great economic change. Collis P. Huntington’s Chesapeake and Ohio Railway completion from Richmond to Newport News Point led to increased financial opportunities and laid the foundation for the establishment of the City of Newport News in 1896. Huntington founded the Newport News Shipyard, in 1886, which today is the Commonwealth’s largest private employer and the nation’s only shipyard building nuclear powered aircraft carriers. Beyond the Shipyard, Newport News has been a crucial component of the military industrial complex in both World Wars with the establishment of military bases and the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation. All these local stories had a large impact on Virginia’s History and influenced world events since the Revolutionary War.

Newport News has taken a leadership role in historic preservation on the Virginia Peninsula since the early 1990s. The City has world-class museums and important historic sites for future generations to enjoy.

Local Events

Juneteenth Celebration: Freedom Festival
June 22, 2024 - June 22, 2024
City of Newport News

Free community festival featuring musical entertainment, food and craft vendors, informational exhibits, and children’s activities. For details, cli... Read More

Juneteenth Celebration
June 23, 2024 - June 23, 2024
City of Newport News

Join us as we explore the natural resources of Virginia's waterways and their role in freedom with interactive exhibits and activities. From a resourc... Read More

4th of July Stars in the Sky
July 04, 2024 - July 04, 2024
City of Newport News

Light up the night in Newport News! Celebrate Independence Day with great food, live music, festive entertainers, giveaways and a spectacular firewor... Read More