Casemate Museum (Hampton, VA)
20 Bernard Road
Ft. Monroe, VA 23651
(757)788-3391
Highlights of the Casemate include the cell of captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis and many other exhibits interpreting the history of Old Point Comfort and its massive 1834 stone fortress, with particular emphasis on the Civil War and the U.S. Army’s Coast Artillery. Gift shop; free admission.
The Chrysler Museum
& Historic Houses
245 W. Olney Road
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 333-6200 The Chrysler is acclaimed as “one of the 20 top museums in the country.” The museum houses treasures of the past 5,000 years, including Italian Baroque and French Academic paintings; the 8,000-piece Chrysler Glass Collection; Virginia’s only museum gallery devoted solely to photography; and a fine collection of decorative arts. Gift shop; admission fee.
The Gloucester Museum of History
Court Circle
Gloucester, VA 23061
(804) 693-1234
Botetourt Building
The NEW home of the Gloucester Museum of History Across from the Gloucester Courthouse on Main Street is the Botetourt Building, a pre-Revolutionary brick ordinary. It served residents and travelers almost continuously for two centuries. In 1965, the County of Gloucester purchased the building and restored it to its 18th century appearance, renaming it the Botetourt Administrative Building. County Administrative offices occupied the building up to now. The GLOUCESTER MUSEUM OF HISTORY will move from the Roane Building in the Court Circle into the BOTETOURT BUILDING. For saving, restoring and finding a functional use for this building, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities presented its first award(in 1971) to Gloucester County for outstanding historical preservation.Changing exhibits cover topics that focus on the people, businesses, trades and town of Gloucester. Free admission.
Hampton History Museum
120 Old Hampton Lane
Hampton, VA
(757) 727-1610 The new Hampton History Museum includes nine permanent galleries arranged in chronological order showing the 400 years of development of the city and surrounding areas as the oldest continuous English-speaking settlement in America. Artifacts drawn from the city’s extensive collection highlight the diverse contributions of the early villages through the emergence of the modern city as a center of air and space research. An interesting twist to Hampton’s history is it’s strong parallels to American history so that it is relevant to people from all over the United States.
Hampton Roads Naval Museum
1 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 322-2984 An official Navy Museum documenting and interpreting the naval history of the Hampton Roads region from the American Revolution to the present, this museum’s displays include ship models, naval artwork, photographs and electronic maps. Gift shop; free admission.
Isle of Wight County Museum (Est. 1976)
103 Main Street
Smithfield, VA 23430
(757) 357-7459 A local history museum whose exhibits include a circa 1900 country store; a miniature colonial plantation house and kitchen with period furnishings; prehistoric fossils; Native American artifacts; local colonial archaeology; a war memorial gallery; and a gallery devoted to the Smithfield Ham industry. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. The museum also has a gift shop. To reach the museum from Norfolk/Virginia Beach (40-50 minutes): Take 264 towards Downtown Norfolk, then take the Downtown Bridge/Tunnel to Portsmouth. Follow 264 towards Chesapeake, then 664 towards Newport News/Hampton. Exit 9A is Rt. 17 North towards the James River Bridge. Turn left at 258 South (Brewer’s Neck), follow signs to Smithfield, turn right onto Rt. 10 West and take the business route (stay right). Turn left onto Main Street. From Richmond (90 minutes), Newport News, and Hampton (20 minutes): Take 64 East and exit at Mercury Blvd./James River Bridge. Follow Rt. 17 South to 258 South (Follow directions to Smithfield as above.) From Williamsburg, Jamestown and Surry Ferry (20 minutes): Head towards Smithfield East on Rt. 10 from Surry and West on Rt. 10 from Ferry. Turn onto Main Street.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Drawer 1607
Williamsburg, VA 23187
(757) 253-4838
Jamestown Settlement
Re-live the life of early Jamestown settlers as you walk through the recreated James Fort and board on eof the three, full-scale replicas of the ships that brought the English to Virginia in 1607. Visit a representative Powhatan Indian Village and experience the Native American culture that the English encountered upon their arrival. Gift shop; admission fee. Yorktown Victory Center
America’s struggle for independence, from the beginnings of Colonial unrest to the formation of a new nation, is chronicled through a time line, thematic exhibitions and the film “A Time of Revolution.” Costumed historical interpreters depict daily life of the time in re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and a 1780s farm. Gift shop; admission fee.
The Mariners’ Museum
100 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 596-2222
The museum features an international collection of carved figureheads, ship models, small craft, the renowned Crabtree Collection of miniature ships, and other maritime artifacts. Special temporary exhibits and live demonstrations are also offered. Gift shop; admission fee.
Ohef Sholom Temple & Archives
530 Raleigh Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23507
(757) 625-4295
Ohef Sholom Temple occupies a unique position as a religious institution in the region. For a century and a half members have left their mark on the development and growth of this community. To preserve important data that tell the story, to keep faith with those who have gone before and to inform generations to come, the Temple Board has designated a special room and funds for a Temple Archives. It is the responsibility of Ohef Sholom Temple Archives to make its vast resources available to the school aged children of Tidewater. These resources include period textiles, photographs, print media, and video. Located in the historic Ghent section of Norfolk, Ohef Sholom Temple Archives is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. “Faces of the Past — Voices of the Future,” an exhibit honoring the 150th anniversary of the congregation, is available for tours free of charge. Research services are available by appointment and do incur a fee. To reach the archivist, write to ohef2@exis.net.
Presidents Park
211 Water Country Parkway
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 259-1121
The mission of Presidents Park is to promote a better understanding of the American presidency, foster an appreciation for our presidents as individuals, encourage civic responsibility and involvement, and provide educational opportunities of the highest standards as well as exposure to fine art.Presidents Park is the creation of David Adickes, an internationally renowned sculptor and painter. Presidents Park is an outdoor museum committed to advancing interest in the presidency, the democratic process, and civic participation among youth and adults alike. The Park features 16-18 foot busts of all 43 Presidents of the United States, placed in a garden setting. Presidents Park has established a Board of Education which reviews educational material to ensure that the Virginia Standards of Learning are met. All content is also reviewed by the President Park’s National Council of Scholars.
St. Luke’s ChurchHistoric St. Luke’s Church (affectionately known as “Old Brick”) is the nation’s only original Gothic church and the oldest existing church of English foundation in America. Its mellow brick walls have stood for more than three centuries. Its superb original traceried windows, stepped gables and butresses are unique in the annals of American architecture. Spared by the hands of time and the ravages of man, this unique little church is our chief link with the Gothic Era in Europe, which bequesthed us the rich heritage of its great cathedrals. Says architectural historian Thomas E. Tallmadge, St. Lukes is “In many respects the most precious building in America.” Open Tuesday-Sunday, Closed Monday, major holidays and the month of January.
14477 Benns Church Blvd.
Smithfield, VA 23430
(757) 357-3367
U.S. Army Transportation Museum
Building 300
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604
(757) 878-1115 This museum features dioramas, exhibits and art depicting the history of Army transportation from the American Revolution to today. The museum also includes outdoor parks displaying over 60 vehicles and aircraft including steam locomotives, hovercraft, helicopters, trucks, watercraft and experimental vehicles. Gift shop; free admission.
Virginia Air & Space Center
600 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 727-0800
Taking Hampton’s theme “From the Sea to the Stars” which integrates the region’s abundant history with its rich aerospace legacy, the VA Air & Space center offers visitors the opportunity to learn of NASA’s many historic achievements. Offerings include live permanent and temporary exhibits as well as live satellite and lecture programs. In the Hampton Roads History Center, vistiors can enjoy a “Old Time Photographer” display of historic photographs capturing the charm of early 20th-century living. The Center also includes an IMAX theater that offers presentations throughout the day. Gift shop; admission fee.
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 595-1900
The Virginia Living Museum uniquely combines the attributes of a native wild life park, an aquarium, an aviary and a natural history museum. Indoor living exhibits together with outdoor animal habitats along the boardwalk display live wildlife in natural settings native to Virginia. The museum’s planetarium theater, an observatory, and hands-on exhibits complete the visit. Gift shop; admission fee.
Watermen’s Museum
309 Water Street
P.O. Box 531
Yorktown, VA 23690
(757) 887-2641
The story of wooden boats and iron men – Virginia’s watermen and their sturdy workboats – is the story of generations of families who have earned a living from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Five galleries and outdoor exhibits portray vividly the struggles and success of an endangered way of life and of Virginia’s watermen. The museum staff invites you to come and enjoy the ship models, paintings, photographs, artifacts and tools of this ancient industry. In addition to the indoor galleries and outdoor exhibits, the museum also offers hands-on educational programs for visitors of all ages, a gift shop, and a carriage house overlooking the beautiful York River. Additionally, the museum’s grounds and carriage house are available for special events such as weddings, receptions, parties and meetings. The museum is located in Yorktown, near the Coleman Bridge. It is open April through December; the hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays, except on holidays. Students and adult groups may visit the museum during the off-season by calling (757) 887-2641 for reservations. There is an admission fee. To reach the museum, take I-64 to Exit 242B, then Rt. 199E to the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, or Exit 247 to Rt. 238 to Old 238 to Yorktown.
York County Historical Museum
York Hall, 301 Main Street
Yorktown, VA 23690
(757) 890-4490
FREE
Exhibits spanning the centuries of York County history. The Chiskiack Watch Archaeological Collection (display open seasonal) includes artifacts from Native Americans to 1989 when the dig began. The exhibit of 20th Century York County History (open by self guided tour during the hours of York Hall) includes Then and Now, photos of the same site taken 100 years apart, Gone and Almost Forgotten, sites no longer standing, and more. www.yorkcounty.gov/ychm
