Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation — Attraction in Chesapeake

Today, my best friend Natasha and I finally visited the Great Bridge Battlefield Waterway Museum, a place we’ve walked by countless times while exploring the outdoor trails with Brady, our two-year-old dog. These trails have been a backdrop to many beautiful moments: discovering and sharing kindness rocks, marveling at butterflies perched on stones, and simply soaking in the peaceful surroundings. But today was different—we stepped inside the museum for the first time, and it was indeed an unforgettable experience.

Living so close, I felt a twinge of guilt, realizing how little I knew about the area's rich history. Thankfully, Bill, one of the museum staff, was an incredible guide. His kindness and patience were unmatched as he generously answered our many questions and shared his wealth of knowledge. His passion brought the history of the Great Bridge to life in a way a self-guided tour never could.

As we wrapped up our visit, we stopped by the gift shop, where Sebastian, who had also helped us with tickets earlier, showed the same kindness and warmth. Despite it being close to closing time on a Saturday evening, he never made us feel rushed or unwelcome. He went above and beyond—when I mentioned to Natasha that I wished they had ghost story books for sale (after Bill had shared some eerie tales about the area), Sebastian surprised us. He gifted us a Virginia ghost storybook!

Their kindness and enthusiasm transformed our visit into something extraordinary. Thank you, Bill and Sebastian, for making this experience one we’ll...

We immensely enjoyed our visits to a little-known but crucial battle in the opening months of the American Revolution, that involved future Chiff Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall and his father. The battlefield interpretive plaques do an impressive job of explaining the battle that drove the British regulars and the Royal Governor from Norfolk and placed Virginia firmly in patriot hands for most of the war. Additionally, this is a location for the inter-coastal waterway that wends its way from Chesapeake Bay to the North Carolina coast, passing Great Dismal Swamp. The modern bridge, which takes its name from the causeway and bridge in colonial times, becomes an added bonus, at the park, when it raises to allow coastal sailing traffic through. Not crowded at all because it is so...

This is one of the best museums & parks I've ever visited. The gallery exhibits are excellent with full of great history about Great Bridge and its significance during the Revolutionary war. The people who fought here, unknowingly secured America's future and helped boost the Patriot's confidence during the struggle against the British.

The trails are great for running and it's enjoyable to walk the whole way. There will be events from time to time such as live music and food trucks. The people who put efforts into putting this museum and park together did a great service to Virginia and the U.S. as a whole. I highly recommend visiting...