On November 1, 1767 Andrew Sprowle, a merchant and
ship owner, established the Gosport Shipyard on the western shore of the
Elizabeth River under the British flag. The shipyard developed and prospered
as both a naval and merchant shipyard. When the American Revolution began in
1775, Sprowle chose to remain loyal to the Crown and fled the area aboard the
Royal Governor's flagship. All his properties were confiscated by the Colony
of Virginia. While being operated by Virginia, in 1779, the shipyard was
burned by the British.
This former colonial shipyard became the Navy's nucleus in the Hampton Roads
area where the largest naval base in the world has developed. The Norfolk
Naval Shipyard is the U.S.Navy's oldest shipyard and actually predates the
United States Navy Department by 31 years. The largest shipyard on the East
Coast. Known for most of its first century as "Gosport", it was
renamed "Norfolk" in 1862 after the largest city in the area. It has
never borne the name of its home city of Portsmouth.
During its more than 230 years, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard has assisted the
nation in winning nine major wars, putting an end to piracy, sending the Great
White Fleet around the world, scientifically exploring the Pacific, and
opening Japan to American trade.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (757)396-3000 or DSN 961-3000
Mailing
address: Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA 23709
Population:
924 active duty; up to 5,000 active duty aboard ships undergoing repair;
7,695 civilians
Housing: Limited
officer family units; 125 enlisted family units; 80 unaccompanied officer
units; 1,300 unaccompanied enlisted units (757)296-3330
Temporary
lodging: None.
Family
Support Center: See Portsmouth NAS
Schools: None
at shipyard.
Child
Care: Center for 57, with wait (757)444-3379
Health
care: Tricare (800)931-9501; also see Portsmouth Naval Medical
Center
Norfolk
Naval Shipyard - Portsmouth, VA has a medium size commissary, a medium
exchange, and a mini mall (757)397-7068. Recreation at Norfolk
Naval Shipyard - Portsmouth, VA includes bowling, recreation center, golf,
gym, tennis, and outdoor activities.
