Correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but the third grade social studies I recall focused on Virginia history, especially that of Virginia Beach. We learned about the seven boroughs, Princess Anne County, and how we came to be an independent city with no county. Homework consisted of things like marking all the important sites on a map and coloring images of historic houses and sites. We even took field trips to see the Norwegian Lady and the Thoroughgood House. This was in addition to learning about the settlers at Jamestown and the production of ham and peanuts, of course.


The Wikipedia article about Virginia Beach may as well be titled "History and Statistics of the Best City Ever."

(photos via Virginia Beach Public Library and About)

Even though hitting a tunnel meant that you were leaving VaBeezy, it was always exciting to see if you could hold your breath through the whole tunnel. Midtown or Downtown Tunnel? Ain't no thang. Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel? Alright, maybe a little respect there.

But the big prize was, and always will be, either underwater section of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Did you know that in 1964 it was selected as "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World" in a worldwide competition? Neither did I, but I am proud of it.

Let's take a little trip (all photos via Delmarva Highways):

Big breath in!


Hold it hold it hold it!


We've made it!

(More facts at the Wikipedia entry)

Because unlike some states, we actually remove the toll from a toll road once it's paid for.

Yes, I'm talking about Old 44. The caption that accompanies this photo states: "The abandoned overhead sign was a warning sign for what used to be the mainline toll booth along the former VA 44 'Norfolk-Virginia Beach Toll Road'. You can see the location of the paved-over toll booths in the asphalt pavement in the background. The tolls were removed in the mid-1990s, and the route became an extension of I-264 in 1999." (Photo from vahighways.com)