Streetcar 390, a relic of Virginia’s early transportation era, has found its way back home to Hampton after a remarkable journey spanning nearly eight decades.

The streetcar was retired from service in 1946 and purchased by John Anderson of York County, who saw it as an affordable housing opportunity. Anderson converted the car into a family home, where his family lived for almost 30 years — preserving much of its original charm and interior details.

After its time as a home, the streetcar became part of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum’s collection. In 2013, the museum offered to return it to Hampton, provided it would be properly restored and preserved. That promise came true in 2017, when volunteers transported Streetcar 390 back to Virginia.

Since its return, restoration efforts at Fort Monroe have focused on replacing the car’s body, repairing the woodwork, and refurbishing the seating to reflect its early 20th-century appearance. Volunteers also preserved original ceiling advertisements and artwork, offering a glimpse into the era’s design and culture.

“We’re really excited,” said project lead Greg Siegel. “When we first got it here, it didn’t look anything like a streetcar. To get it this far really fills us with excitement. When we went up to Baltimore to get the car and bring it back in 2017, those signs were still in the car. We protected them because we wanted to showcase them.” (RELATED: Virginia Middle School’s Cursive Club Revives a Lost Art)

The next step for Streetcar 390 is finding a permanent home. Siegel and his team are raising funds to move the fully restored streetcar to the Hampton History Museum, where it will stand as a tribute to early transportation and the resourcefulness of one Virginia family. (RELATED: Virginia Social Studies Leaders Warn Testing Proposal Could Undermine Critical Thinking)