Free public program examines the important roles of Naval Station Norfolk and the U.S. Navy in World War II
NORFOLK, VA. — The Sail250® Virginia Speaker Series concludes on April 14, 2026, completing a multipart program exploring pivotal moments in the maritime history of Virginia and Hampton Roads and the vital role they played in shaping America’s story.
Ian Toll, renowned nautical historian, lecturer, and bestselling author, will speak on the importance of the U.S. Navy in World War II and on the role of Naval Station Norfolk in supporting the war effort. Toll is perhaps best known for his Pacific War Trilogy and Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy, and has won praise from critics and military historians alike.
Six Frigates won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature, while Toll’s Pacific War Trilogy — Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods — contains two New York Times bestsellers. Toll has lectured at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Pentagon, and the Naval War College, and has contributed to major publications, including the New York Times and Washington Post.
This event is FREE and open to the public, but reservations are required due to limited seating at The Slover in downtown Norfolk. To register for reserve tickets, visit: https://sail250virginia.com/rsvp/iantoll
An Evening with Ian Toll – Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – 7 to 9:30 PM
The Slover – 235 E Plume St, Norfolk, VA 23510
The Speaker Series is part of Sail250® Virginia’s comprehensive education initiative leading up to the June 2026 festival, which will welcome over 60 tall ships and historic vessels from more than 20 countries to Norfolk and 11 other Virginia affiliate harbors. Earlier presentations examined George Washington’s victory at Yorktown and a panel discussion on the region’s role in the maritime dimensions of the Underground Railroad.
“These programs offer exceptional opportunities for our community to engage with leading scholars and understand how maritime history has shaped Virginia and our nation,” said Paula Barclay Cook, Sail250® Virginia education manager. “From the courageous journeys along the Underground Railroad’s water routes to the naval operations that changed the course of world history, these stories remain deeply relevant today.”
WHRO Public Media is the official Education Media Partner of Sail250® Virginia. For more information about the Speaker Series and other Sail250® Virginia educational programs, visit sail250virginia.com/historyeducation.
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