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We are grateful to announce that Tidewater Historical Restoration Initiative (THRI) was recently featured by WHRO, highlighting our mission to document, research, and share the stories behind historic places across the Tidewater region. The feature showcased THRI’s efforts to bring attention to overlooked historic sites through photography, archival research, and community engagement. By recording the current conditions and histories of these places, we hope to highlight thei

Identification Name: Olde Town Historic District Location: Downtown Portsmouth Year: Built in 1752 during Portsmouth's founding, officially designated as a historic district in 1970 Architectural Style: English Grid layout, Federal and Greek Revival Style buildings Current Status: Remains a very well-preserved historic district. Attracts tourists through its museums, restaurants, and boutique shops. Overview Portsmouth's Olde Towne Historic District is the city's original co

Identification Site Name: High Street Commercial Corridor Location: Portion of High Street immediately east of Downtown Portsmouth Neighborhood: Midtown Portsmouth / West High Street Corridor Property Type: Mixed-use commercial corridor Current Use: Retail, service businesses, entertainment establishments, industrial-related businesses, and vacant or underutilized commercial properties Condition: Many residential buildings are well maintained and occupied, although numerous c

Identification Name: Mount Calvary Cemetery Complex Address: Pulaski Street & Deep Creek Boulevard, Portsmouth, VA 23704 Year Built: 1879, later expanded/combined with nearby cemeteries throughout the late 19th and early 20th century Design Typology: Historic cemetery complex / funerary cultural landscape Purpose: Primarily African American burial ground Current Status: Closed to future burials. Overview Located between Pulaski Street and Deep Creek Boulevard, the Mount Calva

Identification Name: Park Place Baptist Church Year Built: 1902 Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival Original Purpose: Religious institution meant for worship Current Status: The property is currently owned by The Hanson Company and is being redeveloped by The Real McCoy Company into affordable senior housing. Overview Park Place Baptist Church is a Romanesque Revival church constructed in 1902 in the Park Place neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia. On February 10, 2006, the

Identification Address: 228 W Berkley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23523 Year Built: c. 1909–1910 Architectural Style: Beaux-Arts (facade), Romanesque Revival influences (side elevations) Original Purpose: Banking institution (Merchants’ and Planters’ Bank) Later Use: Religious institution (Abundant Life Christian Church) Current Status: Vacant and heavily deteriorated; vegetation overgrowth present throughout exterior, with apparent interior and roof collapse. Overview The structure loc

Site photos show heavy deterioration of the property and strong contrast with its surrounding Identification Address: 303 W. 34th St, Norfolk, VA 23508 Year Built: 1922 Architectural Style: Gothic Revival Original Purpose: Worship and gathering place for the community, originally intended for 2000+ people Current Status: Vacant; congregation closed in 2006 due to declining membership, currently on the market for 1.2 million dollars. It is being considered for reuse, including

Urban environments are constantly changing. Buildings can be demolished, repurposed, or repaired over time. Additionally, some historically significant buildings fall into disrepair and become forgotten. As a result, online records or images often cannot keep up with the current condition. This project aims to document decaying buildings and neighborhoods throughout the Tidewater area. We will be focusing on neglected structures because they provide a broader view of the

The Christian Temple of Norfolk at Park Place Located in the Park Place neighborhood, the Christian Temple of Norfolk is a 1922 Gothic Revival church and a designated historic landmark. Its stained-glass windows, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses make it architecturally unique. Just as important, it reflects a shift in Norfolk’s history, as the congregation changed over time from primarily white to primarily black. Despite its significance, the church has been vacant sinc

Tidewater is rich in history, but many underfunded sites throughout the region are at risk. Without support, these sites and their stories will be lost forever. You can help support us in three simple ways: donating, following and sharing our work, and volunteering your time. Small donations under 100 dollars add us quickly. These small donations allow us to purchase the necessary materials for repair, such as specialized paint, bricks, and windows. These items keep build

Decaying Gothic Style Church in Norfolk that was put up for The Tidewater Region is most famous for its colonial history. This includes places such as Colonial Williamsburg, Colonial Jamestown, and Colonial Yorktown. However, beyond these sites are many lesser known yet deeply important historical buildings scattered throughout Tidewater. Lesser-known historical sites include old churches, schools, industrial sites, and more. These sites offer us a lens into the past of how o