Hello and welcome to this tour of Hampton, Virginia, as presented by Insight Guides. My name is Katherine and I'll be your guide. This tour takes approximately 2 hours to complete, not including any time spent at museums or any other attractions.

You can stop at any time and start again at the same spot later. You can follow the route on your phone or simply listen as I guide you from one sight to the next. I'll be giving clear directions and the audio will automatically start playing when you get close to the next sight on the tour. Don't worry if you need to skip a sight as the tour will automatically pick up at the next location. One more thing before we get started – always be aware of your surroundings and be sure to obey all traffic signals. 

The first English settlers arrived in Hampton 400 years ago, which makes Hampton the oldest, continually inhabited, English-speaking city in America. It's a great place with lots of history in a beautiful location. The saga of Pocahontas and John Smith played out hear here. The pirate Blackbeard arrived in Hampton – or at least a part of him did – after his final battle. The residents burned the city down during the Civil War, before seafood and recreation helped rebuild it. The country's space program started here, as did the first university dedicated to African American and Native American students.

Today, Hampton is a gracious, lively town on one of the most picturesque places in the Virginia Tidewater. On this tour, you'll hear the stories of the people who created this unique town.

Parking is free at the parking garage on Old Hampton Road by the Visitor Center and Hampton History Museum, so you can take your time and enjoy the walk at your leisure. Please try not to block the sidewalks at the stops and always use crosswalks when crossing streets.

Ready? Then let's start at our first stop: St. John's Episcopal Church!