beginning in the late 19th century, the small resort area of virginia beach grew in princess anne county, particularly after 1888 with the arrival of rail service and electricity. developers built the original princess anne hotel which opened in 1890 at the oceanfront near the tiny community of seatack, named for a british "attack by sea" during the war of 1812. in 1891, guests at the new hotel watched the wreck and rescue efforts of the united states life-saving service for the norwegian bark "dictator". the ship's figurehead, which washed up on the beach several days later, was erected as a modest monument to the victims and rescue along the oceanfront for more than 50 years, and then became the inspiration for the current norwegian lady monuments which were dedicated in 1962 in virginia beach, and moss, norway.