Downtown Suffolk Revitalization Plan through Arts - College of ...

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Seaboard Station – After a major fire in the early 1990, this historic passenger station has
been recently renovated. Inside of the station is a model of Downtown Suffolk from
earlier days, complete with a working train, as well as a retail
section selling Suffolk and railroad related items. The center
averages 50 visitors a day on the weekends, but during local
events the number can be as high as 200. The space adjacent to
the Station is used on summer Saturdays for a farmer’s market.
Southern Gun Works – At the southern end of Main Street is the Southern Gun Works, a
military art store. Other items to be found here include, military firearms, uniforms,
paper documents, and war photos.
Shooting Star Gallery – Located at the heart of downtown is this art gallery and frame
shop. This business also sells arts and crafts by regional and national artists, soaps and
candles, and photo restoration.
Not included on the list above is a future restaurant located on South Main that
will feature nightly Jazz music. Several other cultural amenities in the City not located
downtown should be mentioned.
Located southwest of downtown is the ‘largest’ attraction for the city, the Great
Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The Swamp has over 111,000 acres of
forested wetlands, and contains the 3,000 acre Lake Drummond. This site is jointly run
with the City of Chesapeake receives over 50,000 visitors annually. Activities include
hiking, biking, boating, fishing, hunting, and educational facilities.
The original inhabitants of the area are the Nansemond Indians
and were part of Powhatan’s empire. The tribe operates a
museum containing of crafts, jewelry, clothing, books and
historical artifacts. Currently under construction along the
Nansemond River is Mannatock Town, the tribe’s first owned
land since 1650, which will be home to the tribal village as
well as house a cultural center, tribal offices, a museum and