Sunday, November 3, 2024

On a previous visit to Norfolk, we toured the USS Wisconsin and spent some time in Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Since our time here is relatively short, we stayed close to port.

The Pagoda & Oriental Garden was less than a half mile away. This lovely park is situated in Freemason Harbor. The Pagoda (Marine Observation Tower) was given to the city by the Taiwan Provincial Government in 1989. Materials were constructed in Tawain, shipped to Norfolk and assembled there by Taiwanese artisans. The observation tower was not open today, and the park was being set up for a small wedding later today.

The pagoda and Koi pond are surrounded by more than 130 species of Asian plants and trees. Rocks and boulders were used to create hills and “mountains” in the landscape. It’s too bad we had to leave too early to enjoy the many lighted lanterns in the evening.

Nearby is the Elizabeth River Trail, which runs along the waterfront, from Norfolk State University, past Old Dominion University and Fort Norfolk, to the Norfolk International Terminals. The first part of the trail opened in 2003, using 3,500 feet of abandoned rail line donated by Norfolk Southern. Extensions were added over the next decade, resulting in a total length of 10.5 miles.

We walked along some of what is billed as the Cannonball Trail, highlighting some of the history and architecture of the city. Windows on History is an exhibit at the MacArthur Center, using display windows to tell 400 years of Virginia History.

We stopped at the Moses Myers House, which is maintained by the Chrysler Museum of Art. Myers was the first Jewish settler in Norfolk, and he established a shipping and exporting business with a five-ship fleet. He had served as president of the Norfolk City Council, and also as consul for Denmark and the Netherlands, and vice-consul for France. He and his wife, Eliza, had twelve children whom they reared in this house. Their son, Myer, and great-grandson Barton both served as British consuls.

From there, we went to the Chrysler Museum of Art to see their extensive exhibit of glass art, spanning three millennia. The museum was founded in 1933 as the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences. The museum was relatively small until Walter P. Chrysler, automotive heir, donated most of his collection to the museum. Chrysler’s wife, Jean Outland Chrysler, was a native of Norfolk.

The lower level of the museum contains the glass collections, while the upper levels contain paintings and sculptures from many well-known artists.

Across the street from the museum is the Perry Glass Studio, where enthusiasts can take glass blowing classes. The studio also offers a Glass Studio Assistantship for emerging artists, who have recently completed an undergraduate degree program in glass, or who are pursuing a professional career working in glass. The studio was founded by Patricia and Douglas Perry, whose passion for glass art began when they purchased a piece from Dale Chihuly.

It was a beautiful day for a walk in Norfolk, with sunshine and occasional breezes.

We left port around 6pm, next destination is Jacksonville, Florida after a day at sea.