Hampton History Museum

05/29/2026

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05/29/2026

Today in Hampton History
1951 - Fort Monroe’s airstrip is dedicated as Walker Army Airfield. The ceremony honored Lieutenant Colonel John T. Walker, who had been the personal pilot of General Mark Clark in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II and also piloted Generals George C. Marshall, Hap Arnold, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Walker won many decorations, including the Silver Star, but was killed in Italy when a transport plane carrying him home for leave crashed on takeoff.

Image: Maj. Walker with “Rome Express” his Stinson L-5 http://lbirds.com/liaison-pilot-profile-maj-john-t-walker

Find more Fort Monroe history in the Museum’s collections online:
https://hampton.catalogaccess.com/search?search=%22Fort+Monroe%22&includedFields=Objects%2CPhotos%2CLibrary%2CArchives%2CPeople&page=1&size=10&withImages=false

05/29/2026

On May 29, 1780, in Lancaster County South Carolina, a British force under the command of Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton, caught up to a column of retreating Virginia Continentals under the command of Colonel Abraham Buford. Tarleton had been pursuing Buford for several days. As was characteristic of him, he had pushed his men relentlessly to the point of exhaustion, wearing out many of his horses. When he caught up to Buford’s rear guard he sent over a demand for surrender, exaggerating the number of men in his command and adding that his offer would not be repeated.

“I reject your proposals, and shall defend myself to the last extremity,” Buford answered. At that, Tarleton drew his cavalry into a battle line and charged.

Buford ordered his men to hold their fire until the charging enemy were only ten yards away—a fatal mistake. Holding his fire for so long allowed the British cavalry to barrel over and shatter the American line of infantry and made reloading impossible. With the British dragoons cutting them down, the Continentals began to drop their guns and surrender.

Controversy over what happened next (Patriots called it “the Waxhaw Massacre”) continues to the present day. One hundred thirteen of Buford's Virginians were, according to Tarleton, “killed on the spot,” and another 150 were badly wounded. Tarleton’s losses were only 5 killed and 12 wounded.

Tarleton later wrote that his horse was shot from under him during the charge and that “the slaughter was commenced before Lt. Col. Tarleton could mount another horse.” He attributed the lopsided casualties to his men believing he had been killed in the charge, “which stimulated the soldiers to a vindictive asperity not easily restrained.” In his 1797 history of the war, British historian Charles Stedman wrote, “The king’s troops were entitled to great commendation for their activity and ardour on this occasion, but the virtue of humanity was totally forgot.”

According to American accounts, many of Buford’s Virginians were sabered and killed after having surrendered, enraging Patriots and contributing greatly to the already notorious reputation of “Bloody Ban” Tarleton.

After what happened at Waxhaws that day, the fighting in the Southern theater, which was already brutal, took an even darker turn, which would ultimately cost the lives of many on both sides. “Remember Buford!” became a Patriot battle cry, as did “Tarleton’s Quarter!”, a shout meaning to take no prisoners, i.e. to give the same kind of quarter given by Tarleton.

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

Blackbeard Pirate Festival Free Weekend!
Saturday, June 13, 9 am-5 pm
Sunday, June 14, 12-5 pm
Enjoy free museum admission and special tours during the Blackbeard Pirate Festival!

Join our staff for 20-minute tours of over 400 years of the past. Explore the local story of the fight for independence through the experiences of the people who lived it in our special exhibit “Revolutionary Hampton: Journeys of Liberty.” Discover your “revolutionary self” in our interactive game!

The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane in Downtown Hampton. There is free parking in the garage across the street from the museum. For more information call 757-727-1102 or visit www.hamptonhistorymuseum.org.

Hampton, VA - Gov Visit Hampton, Virginia!

05/28/2026

Today in Hampton History
1999 - Bill’s Barbecue closes after 67 years serving the Olde Wythe area of Hampton. The barbecue joint was a popular hangout for kids, teens, and families from Hampton and Newport News. It was the first restaurant on the Peninsula to add curb service, and its blue “Whale of a Meal” sign was one of the first neon signs in the area.

Bill’s BBQ at night, c.1940s. Find more Bill’s history in our collections online:
https://hampton.catalogaccess.com/search?search=%22Bill%E2%80%99s+BBQ%22&includedFields=Objects%2CPhotos%2CLibrary%2CArchives%2CPeople&page=1&size=10&withImages=false

https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19920604-1992-06-04-9206040163-story.html

http://www.nnhs65.com/bills-BBQ.html

05/28/2026

The Virginia House of Burgesses was in session when news of the Boston Port Act arrived. In retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, the Act closed the port of Boston and required the inhabitants of the city to reimburse the cost of the destroyed tea. It was one of a package of five acts of Parliament that the colonists called collectively “the Intolerable Acts.”

Although not generally in sympathy with the destruction of the tea, the Virginia Burgesses were alarmed by Parliament’s response. To punish the entire city, close the port, and send in British troops, was regarded by the Virginians as excessive. Edmund Pendleton called it an “attack upon constitutional rights, of which we could not remain idle spectators.” If they can do it to Boston, they can do it to us, the delegates declared.

While contemplating what other actions to take, the Burgesses passed a resolution to set aside a day of prayer for support of the people of Boston. Offended by the resolution and worried about what else the Burgesses might do, Lord Dunmore, the colonial governor, summarily dissolved the assembly and told the delegates to go home.

Instead, as they had done five years earlier after adopting the Virginia Resolves, they convened the next day in the Apollo Room of the Raleigh Tavern, where they voted to maintain a boycott of British tea and other East India Company products. They also adopted a resolution declaring that themselves to be “clearly of opinion, that an attack, made on one of our sister colonies, to compel submission to arbitrary taxes, is an attack made on all British America, and threatens ruin to the rights of all, unless the united wisdom of the whole be applied. And for this purpose it is recommended… that deputies from the several colonies of British America meet in general congress.” That congress, the First Continental Congress, would convene in Philadelphia in September, launching the colonies on the path to independence.

In an illegal session in the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg on May 27, 1774 (two hundred fifty-two years ago today) the Virginia House of Burgesses called for a continental congress.

05/28/2026

Today in Hampton History
1962 - The Hampton Country Club hosts an exhibition match featuring celebrity golf pros Sam Snead and Gene Littler, along with local golfers Wayne Jackson and Ronnie Gerringer. The course, now The Woodlands, opened in 1916 as the Old Point Comfort Golf and Country Club, a major attraction for the Hotel Chamberlin.

Image: New Clubhouse - Hampton Country Club, 1926

Explore more:
https://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt-teel-column-woodlands-100-20160507-story.html

Museum collections: https://hampton.catalogaccess.com/search?search=%22Country+Club%22&includedFields=Objects%2CPhotos%2CLibrary%2CArchives%2CPeople&page=1&size=10&withImages=false

https://hampton.gov/334/The-Woodlands

05/27/2026

Join us at Fort Monroe on June 19 for, Navigating Freedom: Celebrate Juneteenth & Hampton VA250 Sail, a day-long celebration of history, culture and freedom. View the Sail250® Virginia Parade of Sail, a major maritime event featuring international tall ships and military vessels, at the Fort Monroe seawall as it makes its way to downtown Norfolk. Enjoy a powerful Juneteenth celebration headlined by Musiq Soulchild and cultural displays, food and vendors. https://visithampton.com/event/celebrate-juneteenth-hampton-va250-sail/

Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort VA250 - American Revolution 250 Commission Hampton, VA - Gov Sail250 Virginia

05/27/2026