What to Expect from Great Bridge Battlefield Park

Hello travelers and Hampton Roads residents! There’s a local Chesapeake attraction that has often come across my radar while looking for things to do that I was never quite able to figure out: the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Park.

One of the things I love about the entire Hampton Roads area is its rich history and easily accessible historic sites, but that also means that I don’t always know what to expect without the proper information.

Until recently, the Great Bridge Battlefield Park, also known as Battlefield Park South, was one of those locations that I couldn’t pin down. I’ve passed it dozens of times, but I always thought it was simply a monument surrounded by a little garden!

Wow, was I wrong! And I’m so glad that Daniel and I finally decided to stop by and see for ourselves!

Yes, the Great Bridge Battlefield Park does have a lovely monument and a garden, but there’s much more to it than just that. So for those of you who are in the same boat and not quite sure what this Chesapeake park has to offer, I’d like to clear up the confusion and show just what you can find here!

Beautiful Walking Trails

One of the park’s main attractions is a 1.5-mile loop that takes visitors along the waterway, through the woods, and around to the marshlands.

The trail is very well kept and wide enough in most places for several people to walk at a time. Despite passing a few large groups on our visit, we never felt crowded (even with coronavirus distancing).

You can access the trail directly from the parking lot to enjoy a stroll along the waterway. Many smaller offshoots give easy access to get closer to the water or cut across to the other side of the loop whenever you want to head back.

We enjoyed the peaceful shade of the trees while we watched boats passing by along the water, headed for the dock and bridge. Even on a warm spring day, it was light and breezy under the trees with the cool air blowing off the water.

We also had fun looking for flowers and wildlife on either side of the path; we were not disappointed!

Eventually, the path leads all the way to the Great Bridge Bypass, and you can actually walk underneath the massive beams if you go far enough.

Around the northern side of the loop, the trail runs alongside the marshlands surrounding the Elizabeth River. Eventually, this path splits into two, offering visitors the option to walk the wide, low path or a narrower, raised one bordering the start of the marshes.

We opted for the high path to get a better view of the marshes; however, we did have to start watching our steps because this path had a lot of roots sticking up and crossing over.

Both paths converge on the Dominion Footbridge, a boardwalk that leads to the two-story Marsh Overlook. From the second story, you can get an unobstructed view of the marsh and glimpses of the river.

If you follow this path to its end, the way does get pretty narrow and rugged, but you’ll pop out right by the Interpretive Pathway and Visitor’s Center.

Rich History

Much of this area has deep roots in the developmental history and Revolutionary battles of America. A whole section of Chesapeake is referred to as “The Great Bridge area” because of the original Great Bridge which provided the only land access to Norfolk during the Revolutionary War. Nearly 250 years later, the name remains unchanged!

Because of its important positioning, the Great Bridge was a vital target for Lord Dunmore of the British army. He erected a small fort just across the marshlands to guard the bridge from the American soldiers. But by the end of the year, he determined that an attack was necessary to secure the bridge, and he sent his troops to battle the American soldiers on December 9, 1775.

Interpretive Pathway

The Interpretive Pathway, which winds around a small pond and lovely garden, provides the full story of the intense Battle of Great Bridge through large plaques stationed around the path. You can also read about it on the Revolutionary War website, but the pathway is way more fun!

The park sits just a few hundred yards away from the original location of the Great Bridge and Lord Dunmore’s fort, Fort Murray.

Along the Interpretive Pathway, you’ll also see a recreation of the causeway that played a vital role in this battle. An informational plaque and a cutaway section of the recreation show how these causeways were originally constructed to withstand both weather and water and provide safe passage for travelers back in 1775.

The final piece of this lovely pathway is a tall white monument dedicated to the Patriot soldiers who fought for our country in this battle. A number of stone benches placed around the monument offer visitors a place for peaceful reflection after touring the pathway.

If you’re interested, you can call ahead to set up a free docent tour and get even more information about the battle.

Annual Waterways Heritage Festival

In October 2020, the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Park will be hosting its 10th annual Waterways Heritage Festival! This free one-day festival celebrates life on the waterways during the early days of Chesapeake.

Visitors will be immersed in traditional arts, crafts, music, history, and occupational demonstrations, complete with historic re-enactors. If you like history, this is definitely an event to add to your calendar.

Annual Battle of Great Bridge Reenactment

If you really like to get immersed in local history, there’s no better way to do it than with a full reenactment.

Every year on the first Saturday and Sunday of December, the Great Bridge Battlefield Park hosts a reenactment event of the battle of Kemps Landing and the battle at Great Bridge.

Besides watching the battles, you can also enjoy lectures, historical demonstrations and displays, and some special activities for kids.

The Waterway

The actual waterway is very lovely, and it feels extra classy with all the yachts docked along it!

You can get an extended view of the waterway along the trails, but you can also walk out onto the dock by the parking lot or enjoy the scenery from the banks. The park has a number of well-placed benches all along the bank that are perfectly placed for peaceful views of the waterway and boats passing by. Plus, this area provides a great view of the bridge opening every hour to allow boats to pass through.

There’s also a little “secret” area with a couple of benches right beside the bridge. It’s tucked away behind the gardens of the Interpretive Pathway. You can access it via a small trail by the Marshall Family plaque. The benches are literally in the shadow of the Great Bridge and offer a cool view of its underworkings.

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Closing Thoughts on the Great Bridge Battlefield Park

I love it when a place serves more than one purpose; in the case of the Great Bridge Battlefield Park, it’s both beautiful and informative! If you’re looking for things to do in Chesapeake or just a new Chesapeake Park to try out, I’d highly recommend this one.

It’s beautiful, family-friendly, and a great place to learn about the area!

We’ll definitely be back for more leisurely strolls and, hopefully, the Waterways Festival. I hope you’ll take the time to visit as well!

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Happy travels!