self guided tour
232 E Main S t . , N o r f o l k , VA 2 3 5 1 0
v i s i t n o r f o l k t o d ay.com | 1-800-368-3097
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA Welcome to Tales by Rail, a way to see the city of Norfolk and experience stories of both past and present via the Tide light rail system.
There are hundreds of stories to be shared about Norfolk; from a revolutionary cannonball lodged in the brick wall of a church and passages stolen in secret along the Underground Railroad, to the statues of decorated heroes and battleships. Take the Tales by Rail tour and discover these and many other Norfolk tales, and maybe make a few of your own. This brochure includes station descriptions, a detailed map, and a quick reference guide of frequented places of interest at each stop.
= Restaurants
= Historic Landmarks & Markers
= Shopping
= Attractions
Monticello Station Quick Guide: From this station, discover the story of Moses Myers by taking a tour of the Moses Myers House, the oldest Jewish home in America. Stop by the Norfolk History Museum to learn more about our 400-year-old city. Or learn about our connection with the U.S. Capital Dome architect, Thomas U. Walter, at the Freemason Street Baptist Church sanctuary building. The performance venues, Generic Theatre, NorVa, Wells Theater and Chrysler Hall, are also located nearby.
EVMC/FORT NORFOLK STATION Quick Guide: The stories begin here! Hop off the train and go for a walk along the Elizabeth River Trail, which leads to downtown Norfolk. Or walk where American soldiers served and defended our harbors during the War of 1812, at Fort Norfolk. The Fort is located a few blocks away from the station. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops located in the nearby Ghent neighborhood.
YORK STREET / FREEMASON STATION Quick Guide: Just a short walk down Botetourt Street in the Freemason neighborhood, there are eateries, retails stores and coffee shops. Walk the old cobblestone streets to the Dr. William B. Selden House, which served as headquarters for the Union occupation, or to The Lamb House (aka Kemure), home of Norfolk Mayor William Wilson Lamb, who is accredited with saving the Norfolk’s historic mace during the Civil War.
MacArthur Square station Quick Guide: Engage your inner history buff at Norfolk’s many beautiful museums and historical sites, including the MacArthur Memorial or Windows on History at the MacArthur Center. Feast on delicacies and desserts at local eateries tucked away along the downtown streets, or entice your eyes with local art found at D’Art Center located in the historic Selden Arcade. There is a story on every corner from this station!
Civic Plaza Station
NSU Station
Quick Guide: Some of Norfolk’s best tales can be found just a few steps away from this station starting at the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where a piece of artillery fired from the British fleet in 1776 remains lodged in a brick wall. From here, follow the rest of the self-guided Cannon Ball Trail, a tour that connects historic sites throughout the city. St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Basilica is nearby. Built in 1858, she is a testament to the Gothic Revival design; an architects delight. Also, there are plenty of
Quick Guide: The tales here are both ancient and modern. Visit the Norfolk State University Planetarium which offers guests the chance to explore the universe or hear lectures, or check out the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center for a variety of events from music performances to educational forums. Go to the visitnorfolktoday.com
great restaurants & retail shops in this area.
Harbor Park STATION park & ride Quick Guide: This station is a fan favorite! Harbor Park is home of Norfolk’s minor league baseball team, the Tides. Harbor Park is rated the best minor league stadium by Baseball America. Check the schedule and get ready for a home run of a time! Did you know this area use to be the location of Higgin’s Wharf and Wrights Wharf where fugitive slaves found part of their journey along the Underground Railroad? One ship of particular note was the Augusta, captained by William C. Smith. Go online and download the Waterways to Freedom tour to hear her story as well as Norfolk’s entire Underground Railroad tale.
calendar for scheduled events.
Ballentine/Broad Creek Station park & ride Quick Guide: Come out with friends, find a seat, and watch the Norfolk State Spartans football team at the William “Dick” Price Stadium.
Ingleside Road Station The tales told here are from the locals who reside near this residential station stop.
Military Highway Station park & ride This station connects to local bus routes. There are shopping and attractions within a short drive from this station as well.
Newtown Road Station park & ride This may be the end of the line and the eastern terminus of the Tide, but it is not the end of the stories in Norfolk. For more information, go to www.visitnorfolktoday.com!
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HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & MARKERS Fort Norfolk........................................................................................... 801 Front Street ATTRACTIONS Elizabeth River Trail.......................................Claremont Avenue near Raleigh Avenue
MONTiCELLO STation HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & MARKERS Epworth United Methodist Church..................................124 West Freemason Street Freemason Street Baptist Church................................... 400 East Freemason Street Moses Myers House.......................................................... 323 East Freemason Street Old Norfolk Academy.......................................................................... 420 Bank Street St. Johns African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.........545 East Bute Street The Tazewell Hotel.......................................................................... 245 Granby Street
FREEMASON STation HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & MARKERS Addington-Petty-Dickson House.....................................300 West Freemason Street Almand-Archer House........................................................................ 327 Duke Street Dr. William B. Selden House.......................................................351 Botetourt Street James W. Hunter House Victorian Museum and Shop.240 West Freemason Street John Cary Weston House..................................................358 West Freemason Street Old Second Presbyterian Church (now The Freemason Abbey)...........................................209 West Freemason Street Taylor-Whittle House.........................................................227 West Freemason Street West Freemason St. Historic District Marker.Corner of Duke St. & Freemason St. ATTRACTIONS Armed Forces Memorial.....................................................................Town Point Park
Wells Theater/Virginia Stage Company.................................... 108 Tazewell Street Whitehead House, 1791...............................East Freemason Street and Bank Street Willoughby-Baylor House................................................. 601 East Freemason Street ATTRACTIONS Chrysler Hall............................................................................215 St. Pauls Boulevard Generic Theatre.......................................................................485 St. Pauls Boulevard Norfolk Police and Fire-Rescue Museum..................... 401 East Freemason Street NorVa........................................................................................... 317 Monticello Avenue The Roper Performing Arts Center............................................... 340 Granby Street Scope................................................................................. 201 East Brambleton Avenue MERMAID SIGHTINGS & STATUES Norva Mermaid.......................................................................... 318 Monticello Avenue Tidewater Community College (Thomas W. Moss Jr. Norfolk Campus).......300 Granby Street
Battleship Wisconsin......................................................1 Waterside Drive (Nauticus) Commercial Place Fountain................................. Commercial Place and Main Street Nauticus.............................................................................................. 1 Waterside Drive
MA MacArthur STation
Norfolk Pagoda Tea House and Oriental Garden............265 West Tazewell Street MERMAID SIGHTINGS & STATUES Courtney Mermaid........................................................................253 West Bute Street Dolphin Collection....................... 403 Boush Street (The Bank of the Commonwealth) Flower Mermaid..................................Corner of Boush Street and West Tazewell Street Lola........................................Corner of College Cross & College Place & Dunmore Street Mirrored Mosaic Mermaid.On Boush Street between Bute Street and Freemason Street Mujeres Del Mar.................................................................300 West Freemason Street Nauticus Mermaid............................................................1 Waterside Drive (Nauticus)
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & MARKERS The Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception........ 232 Chapel Street The Confederate Dead Memorial.At the Cross of Main Street and Commercial Place General Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum.... 198 Bank Street (MacArthur Square Park) MacArthur Memorial.................................. 198 Bank Street (MacArthur Square Park) Old Norfolk City Hall................................................................. 235 East Plume Street Northern Limit of Old Norfolk.Corner of St. Paul’s Boulevard & East City Hall Avenue St. Paul’s Episcopal Church................................................. 201 St. Paul’s Boulevard Wall of History................................................. City Hall Drive (MacArthur Center Mall) U.S. Custom House...............................................................................................101 East Main Street Zero Mile Stone........................................... 198 Bank Street (MacArthur Square Park)
ATTRACTIONS Hampton Roads Naval Museum..................................................... 1 Waterside Drive MacArthur Square Park............................. 198 Bank Street (MacArthur Square Park)
nsu station
Commercial Place Fountain................................. Commercial Place and Main Street
ATTRACTIONS
Monticello Arcade............................................................... 211 East City Hall Avenue
L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center.......................................NSU Campus*
Spirit of Norfolk Cruises Office................................................ 109 East Main Street
Planetarium.............................................................................................NSU Campus*
Selden Arcade............................................................................. 208 East Main Street
* Go to NSU.EDU for schedule.
Norfolk Southern Museum................................................. 3 Commercial Place #100 American Rover / Victory Rover Sailing Cruises................. 224 East Main Street Hampton Roads Maritime Association Incorporated........ 236 East Plume Street
ballentine / broad creek STation
Battleship Wisconsin......................................................1 Waterside Drive (Nauticus)
ATTRACTIONS
Nauticus.............................................................................................. 1 Waterside Drive
Norfolk State University Football....................................NSU CampusStadium
Spirit of Norfolk............ 333 Waterside Drive (Behind Waterside Festival Marketplace) Norfolk Pagoda Tea House and Oriental Garden............265 West Tazewell Street
I ingleside road station
MERMAID SIGHTINGS & STATUES Bronze Bas-Relief Sculpture (set in ground).North Entrance to MacArthur Center Bronze Bas-Relief Sculpture (set in ground)...........................Located at City Hall
MI Military Highway station
and Monticello Avenues Flower Mermaid..................................Corner of Boush Street and West Tazewell Street Ship Ahoy.................................................................................... 236 East Plume Street
NW newtown road station
Maid On Time ...........................................................................Plume & Atlantic Street Mermaid of Justice .......100 St. Paul’s Boulevard, Inside (Norfolk Circuit Courthouse) Nauticus Mermaid............................................................1 Waterside Drive (Nauticus) Norfolk Federal Building......................... Corner of Granby Street and Brooke Avenue Silver Mermaid............................................... Corner of Plume and Commercial Street
civic plaza STation HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & MARKERS The Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception........ 232 Chapel Street St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.................................................. 201 St.Paul’s Boulevard
HARBOR PARK STation ATTRACTIONS Tides Baseball............................................................................................Harbor Park
2 3 2 E M a i n S t . , N o r f o l k , VA 2 3 5 1 0
visitnorfolktoday.com 1-800-368-3097
2 3 2 E M a i n S t . , N o r f o l k , VA 2 3 5 1 0
visitnorfolktoday.com | 1-800-368-3097