News Flash

Virtual Book Launch - Abandoned Tidewater: Forgotten Relics of Southeastern Virginia
Hampton History Museum Facebook Live Event– Monday, September 14, 7 pm
Virginia’s Tidewater has played a significant role in American history. With European settlers arriving on its tranquil shores as early as the sixteenth century, the historical moments that occurred across this region were pivotal in the creation of our nation and its continued evolution. As time marched on, more and more landmarks lost their relevance and were left as abandoned vestiges of days gone by.

In Abandoned Tidewater: Forgotten Relics of Southeastern Virginia, you’ll explore some of these discarded places through vibrant imagery which shows what was left behind when man walked away. Learn more about the history and follow author and photographer, Nancy E. Sheppard, as she takes you on this incredible journey across Southeastern Virginia.

Locations explored include: Ambler Mansion, Jamestown; Camp Eustis, Newport News; Camp Patrick Henry, Newport News; Crawford Road Bridge, Yorktown; Fort Monroe, Hampton; Giant Square Shopping Center, Virginia Beach; Graveyard of the Atlantic, Virginia Beach and Norfolk; Hydrogen Processing Plant, Langley Air Force Base; Mine Depot, Yorktown; Old Brick Church, Bacon’s Castle, Surry; Peanut Processing Plant, Suffolk; Porter House, Boykins; Presidents Park, Croaker; Rosewell Plantation, Gloucester; and Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled, Hampton.

"Abandoned Tidewater: Forgotten Relics of Southeastern Virginia" will be available in the museum gift shop for $24.99. Museum members enjoy a 10% discount. A limited number of signed copies by the author will be available. For more information about purchasing the book call the shop at 757-727-6824.

After the event airs live, it can be found under the museum’s Facebook Videos tab, and later the video will be added to the museum’s YouTube playlist.  

About the Author
Nancy E. Sheppard is an award-nominated nonfiction author, historian, public speaker, and photojournalist.

Her publication credits include: The Airship ROMA Disaster in Hampton Roads (The History Press, 2016), Hampton Roads Murder & Mayhem (The History Press, 2018), Lost Attractions of Hampton Roads (The History Press, 2019), as well as numerous newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Her photography work has been featured on the website for the United States Navy as well as in several books and newspapers.

Ms. Sheppard previously held an appointment as a voting member of the York County (Virginia) Historical Committee. She also spent several years working with the weekly newspaper, Yorktown Crier-Poquoson Post, serving as staff writer, photojournalist, social media manager, and as editor-in-chief.

Aside from her work, Ms. Sheppard is passionate about historic preservation, and the awareness of and advocating for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Epilepsy, craniofacial birth defects, special education rights, and mental health. She enjoys urban and rural exploration, various art mediums, and spending time with her husband and children.