The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal opened for operation in 1859. During the Civil War, the strategic value of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal was recognized by both the Union and the Confederacy.

The Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation protects, preserves and promotes the history of the Battle of Great Bridge that was fought on Dec. 9, 1775.

Today, on the banks of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal and the Elizabeth River on Battlefield Boulevard, that dream has come true. Visitors can browse through the Great Bridge Battlefield ...