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Historic Points Of Tidewater
 Are Brought Much Closer With
 Completion Of Bridge Program

The historical points of Tidewater, as well as other localities, will be brought much closer by the building of the four new bridges, two of which have already been completed and are handling a great amount of traffic, and the other two, the James river bridge and the South Norfolk - Portsmouth bridge, which are practically complete.

The scenic beauty and historical places of Tidewater will become more familiar because of these bridges, as direct routes from the north and west are  now possible.

Upon leaving Bristol, the extreme western outpost of the state, the motorist will proceed through the rugged mountainous southwest on to the cities of Roanoke and Lynchburg. From this point through Appomattox, Farmville, Burkeville, Blackstone and Petersburg, the Piedmont may be viewed at its best. Leaving Petersburg the trail enters into Tidewater, and it is over this part of the journey that the beautiful romance of the Colonial period is presented. Bacon's Castle, headquarters for the rebellion directed against Virginia's royal governor, Berkley; the ivy-covered ruins of the old Surry Church, built prior to 1650; the rare architectural beauty of the famous James river estates and manor houses exemplified by the Brandon's and Claremont Manor; St. Luke's, the oldest Protestant church standing in America; Smithfield, harboring associations dear to the American historian, represent but few of the many historic attractions attached to the trail as it passes through Tidewater.

Just a few miles beyond Smithfield, the cutoff over the new bridge will be made into this city, thus bringing the route of the longest motor artery in Virginia to an end in the State's all -year playground, the Portsmouth-Norfolk area.

Upon arrival in Portsmouth the tourist can view the Navy Yard, with its scenic and historic battle relics of former days. It was here that the first iron-clad war vessel was built, the Merrimac.

At the Navy yard, the stone dry dock is know as the oldest dry dock in the United States. Its construction began November, 1827, under the direction of Colonel Baldwin, who also was leader of the construction of the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts. Captain W. P. S. Sanger was appointed resident engineer at the Gosport yard and remained in that position until its completion. The stone used in its building was obtained from different quarries in Massachusetts.

The first liner ever to be built in a United States dry dock was built at the Portsmouth yard, and was named the "Delaware," and carried a figurehead of the Delaware representing Tamarind, a chief of the Delaware tribe of Indians. This figurehead was saved when the Delaware was destroyed in 1861 and is now in the Naval Museum at Annapolis.

It was here that old Fort Nelson stood years before the building of the hospital. It was also know as a famous dueling ground, and was attacked in 1779 by the British under Admiral Colllier, and Major Thomas Matthew, who was in charge of the British land forces. The garrison at the fort fled to Dismal Swamp.

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