One of the great things about living or visiting the southern United States is the rich history of the region. Anyone with an interest in historic sites will find a treasure trove of things to see and do in the south, where some of the oldest cities in the located. One good way to get away from the anxiety Toronto, New York, and other cities seem to breed is to head south and see the sights (and sites) and a trip to a Portsmouth zip code is certainly a good place to start.

Portsmouth has played a very important role in several areas of the nation's history, particularly during the great conflicts which have defined this nation. True, Portsmouth seems to have found itself constantly playing host to the losing side in these battles, but the role it has played is still important nonetheless. The lead castings used to manufacture the ironclads of the Civil War and the quarters for the British regulars during the War of Independence can both be found in the city.

That's right; Portsmouth's history goes right back to the war which laid the foundations for what our great nation would become. It was here that many of the most important armies of British regulars were stymied time and again, although it was also considered an important mustering point for the redcoat troops. Lord Cornwallis and Benedict Arnold themselves used the farm fencing and timber constructs of the biggest forts in the city in order to make plans for their upcoming battles.

If you take a trip to Craney Island, you will see the site where centuries ago the American revolutionary troops won one of the few battles in which they were victorious during our surprisingly successful Revolution. While the British could afford to throw out troops as if they were coming off of a pneumatic conveyor, the Americans had very limited personnel, training, and resources. What's more, the independent spirit which sparked the revolution was not exactly conducive to a cohesive army. Nevertheless, at Craney Island British regulars were fought off successfully by Americans for one of only a handful of times.

Window weights and computer boards may be common sights at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard today, but this too is a historic site famous all over the south. It was this yard which would see the manufacture of hundreds of British and American ships, as well as what navy the Confederate states could put together during the Civil War. Today, it still functions as an important shipyard for American freedom.