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Welcome to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a beautiful peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Eight and a half miles wide at its widest point, Accomack and Northampton counties are steeped in history and stunning natural beauty.
From the Maryland line on the north, the Shore extends 70 miles to Cape Charles and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in the south. On the east (seaside) beyond the wetlands and the barrier islands is the Atlantic Ocean. On the west (bayside) is the Chesapeake Bay and an extensive system of creeks with stunning westward water views and protected access to the bay.
History
The first known account of a visit by Englishmen to the Eastern Shore was written in 1603 by Thomas Canner, one of the two men who survived an ambush by hostile Indians. The landing party of seven was led by Captain Gilbert, nephew of Sir Walter Raleigh, who following his uncle’s orders was searching for traces of the colony which had vanished from Roanoke Island, NC, 15 years earlier.
 In the summer of 1608, Captain John Smith and a party of 32 men in four boats came from the colony at Jamestown to explore and map the area. They made contact with the Indians of the Eastern Shore and established friendly relations with the Indian King Debedeavon and his brother Kiptopeke.
The first permanent English settler, Thomas Savage, came to the Shore about 1614 and his descendants still live here today. Other settlers followed rapidly, and a county government soon was established. Today, Northampton County possesses the oldest continuous court records in the nation, dating from 1632.
The city of Arlington, Virginia and the National Cemetery are named for the old Custis Plantation (west of Capeville), where Martha Dandridge Custis Washington lived during her first marriage.
Cape Charles
As the largest town on the southern end of the shore, Cape Charles has its own history. The town was established in 1884 when the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad extended its line southward through the Delmarva peninsula. Cape Charles was established as the railroad's southern terminus from which steamships carried passengers and freight to Norfolk. The town was incorporated in 1886, and later became the headquarters for the Norfolk Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Many large homes were constructed to house railroad executives as well as for the expanding merchant class. With most of it's structures built between 1885 and 1920, Cape Charles has one of the largest concentrations of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-century buildings on the East Coast. In 1989, the town was designated as an Historic District on the Virginia Landmarks Register and in 1991 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cape Charles was, for many years, the terminal for passenger and car ferry service across the Bay to Norfolk and Hampton. The last ferry left Cape Charles in 1953. Cape Charles still serves as a terminal for railway barges that carry rail cars from the Eastern Shore Railroad across the mouth of the Bay to Norfolk. After leaving Cape Charles, the ferry boat terminal operated for some time out of nearby Kiptopeke. Ferry service from Kiptopeke was terminated in 1964 with the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A destination itself, the Bridge-Tunnel is a 17 mile engineering wonder that connects the shore to the Norfolk-Virginia Beach metro area.
Visit the Cape Charles Museum & Welcome Center for more information on history of the town and the ferry and railroad service. The museum is located on Randolph Avenue in a former power plant and features photographs and items from the town's past.
Cape Charles also features a small harbor, used by residents and visitors. The Cape Charles Harbor has 51 boat slips, a harbor master's office, and two public boat launching ramps.
Northampton County
The 207 square miles of Northampton County hold innumerable treasures. Best defined by the coastal beauty of the beaches, fields, and waterways, the county has grown considerably in the last 10 years in several ways. There is a growing ecotourism industry, healthy boating and fishing businesses, and many spirited entrepreneurial activities. The area also has a very active arts community with many resident artists and arts organizations that bring world-class performances to the shore.
 The rejuvenation of the area was enhanced considerably by the creation of Bay Creek Golf and Marina Resort beginning in 2001. The 1,700+ acre gated community is incredibly diverse in its offering, whether your passion is boating, golfing, bird watching or just enjoying the sunset from the sandy beaches. Two ‘signature’ golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus provide phenomenal golfing. The Palmer course was ranked as one of the "Top 10 Best New Upscale Public Golf Courses" by Golf Digest in 2003. The world-class Bay Creek Marina located in the protected harbor of King's Creek provides deepwater access; a perfect launching point for exploring the Intercoastal Waterway, the Chesapeake Bay and the open seas of the Atlantic.
For more information about the Eastern Shore
Schneider Development’s Top 12 Favorite Things To Do
For a more complete list of recreational activities see the Eastern Shore of Virginia Portal.
Getting Here
Midway between Maine and Miami, the Eastern Shore is an easy drive from several major metro areas. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the US Highway 13 provide a major north/south alternative route to Interstate 95. Commercial air service is provided by several carriers just across the Chesapeake Bay at Norfolk International Airport. Cape Charles also operates as a deep water harbor. Those arriving by boat have the beautiful Bay Creek Marina as their destination.
 Distances to/from Cape Charles, VA:
- Norfolk, VA - 40 mi.
- Richmond, VA - 125 mi.
- Baltimore, MD - 210 mi.
- Washington, DC - 230 mi.
- Philadelphia, PA - 230 mi.
- Raleigh, NC - 225 mi.
- New York, NY - 320 mi.
Chambers of Commerce
Northampton County Chamber of Commerce
109 Mason Avenue, Suite A
P.O. Box 87
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757.331.2304
Email: info@northamptoncountychamber.com
Website: www.northamptoncountychamber.com
Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Drawer 460
Melfa, Virginia 23410
757.787.2460 • FAX 757.787.8687
Email: info@esvachamber.org
Website: www.
esvachamber.org
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