Local Museums in Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond
Local Museums in Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond
There are a lot of wonderful museums in and around Williamsburg, VA. Most museums offer discounts, memberships, free admission, activities and classes. Enjoy taking advantage of all the area museums have to offer your family. Museums are listed below by city. If we missed one please let us know, Kristy.wf@gmail.com.
Williamsburg
Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg – The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum are located in the same building. The DeWitt Wallace Museum houses a collection of American and British antiques from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum offers changing exhibitions of American folk paintings, textiles, ceramics, metals and furniture. The Good Neighbor Pass gives unlimited admission to the historic area, museums, discounts at shops, food and beverage and evening programs, available to local residents, teachers and some local employees. Colonial Williamsburg itself is a living museum and with a daily pass you can venture into trade shops, the Governors Mansion, Hennage Auditorium, outdoor theatre spaces and so much more.
301 S Nassau St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(877) 686-6121
Website
Historic Jamestowne – The original site of the first permanent English settlement in America. Preservation Virginia and the U.S. National Park Service together operate Historic Jamestowne.
1368 Colonial Pkwy
Jamestown, VA 23081
(757) 856-1250
Website
Jamestown Settlement – Learn about 17th-century Virginia, from the arrival of English colonists in Jamestown in 1607 through film, gallery exhibits and outdoor living history including ships, forts and Powhatan village. Free admission with proof of residency for residents of York County, James City County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students.
2110 Jamestown Rd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 253-4838
Website
Muscarelle Museum of Art – Affiliated with William & Mary, the museum holds works of art from many cultures and historical eras. The museum has a permanent collection consisting of more than 5,000 works. It also brings in traveling exhibitions.
603 Jamestown Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 221-2700
Website
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! – This is not your typical museum. If your looking for unusual artifacts, or items you will not find in other museums look not further. Over 350 exhibits and artifacts such as a 12ft tall robot sculpture made of scrap car parts, one-of-a-kind artwork, hands-on interactives, and a spinning vortex tunnel! You can also experience a 4D Movie Theater, Laserace, and Mini-Golf all in one convenient location!
1735 Richmond Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 220-9220
Website
Yorktown
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – Learn about the nation’s founding, from the colonial period to the Constitution and beyond. Indoor galleries feature period artifacts, immersive environments and films, including a 180-degree surround screen and dramatic special effects. Outdoor areas re-created Continental Army encampment, demonstrations on medical treatment, camp life and cooking, firings of musket and artillery. Free admission with proof of residency for residents of York County, James City County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students.
200 Water St Route 1020
Yorktown, VA 23690
(888) 593-4682
Website
York County Historical Museum – In historic Yorktown. It is free admission and features many informative exhibits on York County’s incredible history. View artifacts from Yorktown’s past including Native American tools, colonial Yorktown, Revolutionary and Civil War, and 20th Century exhibits of the USS Yorktown, the Naval Weap ons Station and more.
York Hall Museum
301 Main Street
Yorktown, VA 23690
757-890-4122
Website
Museum on Main
307 Main Street
Yorktown, Virginia 23690
website
Watermen’s Museum – Documents the history of Chesapeake Bay Watermen, from pre-colonial to modern times through historical & modern display of boats, crafts & methods of their trade. Summer Camps available.
309 Water St.
Yorktown, VA 23690
(757) 887-2641
Website
Newport News
Endview Plantation – This historic plantation was built in 1769. Learn how America’s Civil War shaped the country’s culture, lifestyle, economy and technology. Educational programs, Summer Camps and Reenactments.
362 Yorktown Road
Newport News, VA 23603
(757) 887-1862
Website
Lee Hall Mansion – Brick plantation house built during the period from 1848 to 1859. Lee Hall offers visitors a step back to the mid-Victorian period.
163 Yorktown Rd,
Newport News, VA 23603
757-888-3371 ext. 305
Website
Mariners’ Museum and Park – A steward of one of the world’s most extensive maritime collections divided between works of art and three-dimensional objects. The 550 acre park is now home to the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake and the Noland Trail – a five-mile shoreline trail with 14 bridges. Educational programs and Summer Camps available.
Admission is only $1
100 Museum Dr.
Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 596-2222
Website
U.S. Army Transportation Museum – Exhibits focusing on Army transportation from the colonial days to the present. Indoor exhibits feature films, dioramas, and models. Outdoor exhibits feature aircrafts, tugboats and landing craft, trucks, and material handling vehicles, steam locomotives and rail cars, and a few fascinating experimental vehicles.
300 Washington Blvd.
Fort Eustis, VA 23604
(757) 878-1180
Website
Virginia Living Museum – Indoor exhibits include an aquariums, hands on exhibits, science center, observatory and planetarium. Outdoor area includes an aviary, broad walk trail, dinosaur discovery trail and botanical preserve. Educational activities and Summer Camps available. Military discounts and membership discounts.
524 J Clyde Morris Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 595-1900
Website
Hampton
Air Power Park – Outdoor, roadside museum showcases Hampton’s role in early space exploration and aircraft testing. View fighter planes, jets, rockets and missiles. Kids playground on site. The outdoor park is open year-round, admission is free.
413 W Mercury Blvd.
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 726-0650
Website
Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe – Largest stone fort in America. Fort Monroe is now a National Monument, open year-round. Visitation is FREE. Check out this article on our visit to Fort Monroe here.
20 Bernard Rd.
Hampton, VA 23651
(757) 788-3391
Website
Hampton History Museum – Learn about the history of Hampton through exhibits and interpretations.
120 Old Hampton Ln.
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 727-1102
Website
Virginia Air & Space Center – The official visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center. VASC has hands-on aviation & space exhibits from 100 years, more than 30 historic aircrafts, and a giant-screen 3D IMAX Theater and Summer Camps.
600 Settlers Landing Rd.
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 727-0900
Website
Norfolk
Chrysler Museum – This is a gem of a museum with a glass studio and a whole area just for kids. Plus is always has free admission and free parking.
Closed Mondays
Tuesday–Saturday, 10–5
Sunday, noon–5
One Memorial Pl
Norfolk, Virginia
Call (757) 664-6200
Website
Hermitage Museum & Gardens – Big News! This museum is FREE The Hermitage Museum is a turn of the century (1900s) family home to the Sloan Family and Mrs Sloan was an incredible art collector. The house itself is a piece of history but the gardens are beautiful too. While you are there you can take a tour to explore the 42 room mansion that has over 5,000 years of art paintings and object from around the globe.
7637 North Shore Road
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-423-2052
Website
Norfolk Botanical Gardens – Beautiful gardens, nightly bike rides, Sundays are Dog Days, Splash Pad, Butterfly House, gift shop and restaurant make up this wonderful place to visit. During this time they request you purchase your tickets online.
6700 Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk, Virginia 23518-5337
757-441-5830
Website
( Splash Pad & Butterfly House temporarily closed due to COVID)
Virginia Zoo – This zoo is a great place to visit and the kids will talk about it for days. However there are some recent changes due to COVID so make sure to check it all out before heading down.
3500 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA 23504
tel:(757) 441-2374
Website
Virginia Beach
Museum of Contemporary Art – This is a contemporary art museum that welcomes kids! Free Admission to the current exhibitions for all visitors is graciously underwritten by their community sponsors!
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
2200 Parks Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-425-0000
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center – If you have not been…well, just go. It is amazing. There are lots of things to see and do and it can be very interactive.
717 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757)385-3474
Website
Richmond
American Civil War Museum–Historic Tredegar – Learn about the history of the American Civil War through our exhibits (one permanent, one rotating). FREE tickets for students and teachers at ACWM – Richmond & Appomattox learn more.
480 Tredegar St.
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 649-1861
Website
Children’s Museum of Richmond – Provides engaging exhibits and activities for kids to climb, create, explore, and play.
Two locations:
2626 W Broad St.
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 474-7062
and
11800 West Broad St.
Henrico, VA 23233
(804) 474-7070
Website
Science Museum of Virginia – The Museum features temporary exhibits and permanent hands-on exhibits about wellness, innovation, speed and more with hundreds of hands-on experiences. Watch movies or planetarium shows in the Dome theater. Summer camps available.
2500 W Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 864-1400
Website
Virginia Holocaust Museum – The museum documents the Holocaust in exhibits, testimonies of local survivors and artifacts. Free admission.
2000 E Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 257-5400
Website
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Art museum with permanent collections, special exhibitions, library, restaurant, education center and much more. The museum is over 600,000 square feet. Free admission.
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 340-1400
Website
Need your museum listing “upgraded” or want to reach our audience with an ad, email Kristy.wf@gmail.com.
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