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All the United States Virginia Norfolk Yellow Fever Park

Yellow Fever Park

One tiny triangular park commemorates the victims of a yellow fever epidemic—many of whom are buried right below the grass.

Norfolk, Virginia

Added By
Kimberly Shoe
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View of park from Hampton Blvd facing Princess Anne Rd.   schuettek / Atlas Obscura User
Memorial marker in center of park.   schuettek / Atlas Obscura User
  ickaimp / Atlas Obscura User
  assemblingdreams / Atlas Obscura User
Yellow Fever Park   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Yellow Fever Park Memorial marker   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
View of park facing corner of Hampton Blvd and Princess Anne Rd.   schuettek / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, a triangular lot too small to be a real park sits at the intersection of Hampton Boulevard and Princess Anne Road. You would never guess it by walking through this quiet, suburban neighborhood, but this is a mass grave.

These days Hampton Boulevard is a busy road leading to the Midtown Tunnel and the Port of Virginia, but long before trucks hauling containers from all over the world began rumbling past, this was rural area a couple miles outside of the City of Norfolk.

In summer 1855, a ship from West Indies accidentally brought along mosquitoes. Those insects brought yellow fever to Norfolk, and the disease spread quickly to the surrounding area. It's estimated that a third of the population of Norfolk died before the epidemic ended, including the city's optimistic young mayor. Thousands more fled the city.

 

With hundreds dying each day from a little-understood disease and gravediggers unable to keep up, mass graves became the preferred burial method. It's unknown how many were interred in the pit beneath this lot, but the number is likely in the dozens. 

This part of Norfolk's history was nearly forgotten, but thanks to the efforts of a local Girl Scout troop a plaque commemorating the yellow fever epidemic and the grave was placed in the tiny park. The little lot and its marker bear silent witness to one devastating summer.

Related Tags

Burial Places Mass Graves Disease Epidemics Death Parks Pocket Parks

Know Before You Go

Parking is on the street in a residential area- two hour parking without a city parking pass. As a city park, the space is closed sunset to sunrise.

Community Contributors

Added By

schuettek

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, olinorfolk, ickaimp, assemblingdreams...

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • olinorfolk
  • ickaimp
  • assemblingdreams
  • blimpcaptain

Published

February 6, 2017

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Sources
  • http://www.westghent.net/neighborhood.asp
  • http://pilotonline.com/news/local/history/the-fever-chapter-epilogue/article_5085e84e-550c-5803-8ea6-1845c37a6aa5.html
Yellow Fever Park
900 W Princess Anne Rd
Norfolk, Virginia
United States
36.866647, -76.300701
Get Directions

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Norfolk

Norfolk

Virginia

Places 8

Nearby Places

Norfolk Wishing Tree

Norfolk, Virginia

miles away

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miles away

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Norfolk, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Norfolk

Norfolk

Virginia

Places 8

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