Hampton Downtown Historic District

Downtown Hampton, Virginia, grew from a port town whose cross-shaped street plan, formed by King and Queen Streets, was laid out in 1691. The historic district covers about 26 acres and holds 43 primary resources, 34 of them contributing to its character. Most buildings are brick or masonry commercial structures from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century, rebuilt after Confederate forces burned the city in 1861 and a second fire struck in 1884. Notable landmarks include St. John's Episcopal Church, whose walls date to 1728, the 1876 courthouse, the 1883 Hampton Baptist Church, a 1914 post office and the Art Deco former City Hall of 1938. Archaeological sites beneath the streets and buildings preserve evidence of wells, taverns and dwellings from the colonial era. The district was recognized for archaeology, architecture, commerce and community planning, covering the years 1691 to 1952, and it keeps its original street layout despite later infill and redevelopment.