Capture History & Adventure

historic ship and a worldwide resource. Call 596-2222 or 1-800-581-7245 or visit www.mariner.org.

The Casemate Museum, located in Hampton, opened in 1951 to display the cell in which Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, was imprisoned after the Civil War. Since then, the museum has expanded to depict the history of Fort Monroe and the Coast Artillery Corps. Call 690-8073 or visit www.fmauthority.com/ visit/casemate-museum.

The Virginia War Museum in Newport News traces U.S. military history from 1775 to the present. Several times each year, reenactors stage encampments on the museum’s grounds. Visit www. warmuseum.org or call 247-8523.

Called the best-preserved War of 1812 site in America, Fort Norfolk is the last of 18 forts built along the Maritime Frontier at President Washington’s request in 1794. This fort, which changed hands twice during the Civil War, is located on Front Street in Norfolk. For information about guided tours, visit on the web at www.norfolkhistorical.org.

In western Newport News, just inside the front gate of Fort Eustis, is the U.S. Army Transportation Museum. This museum occupies six acres and is the only museum in the United States devoted to the history of U.S. Army transportation of troops and supplies. Call 878-1180 or visit www.transchool. lee.army.mil/museum/transportation%20 museum/museum.htm

The Hampton History Museum features 7,000 square feet of exhibit space—helping shape Hampton’s future while also preserving its past. This beautiful building on Old Hampton Lane is the newest jewel in Hampton’s historical crown. Call 727-1610 or visit www.hampton.gov/119/HamptonHistory-Museum.

Riddick’s Folly House Museum, in Suffolk, is just one place in the region on the National Register of Historic Places. This Greek Revival home was built in 1837 by Mills Riddick. It has four floors, 20 rooms, 16 fireplaces and a rich Civil War history that includes being occupied by Union General Peck and his soldiers. Today, it is home to a number of permanent and changing exhibits. Call 934-0822.

SCIENCE: LAND, SEA & SKY

Some of Hampton Roads’ most popular museums are dedicated to science. Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, is a fun and exciting 120,000-square-foot science and technology center exploring the power of the sea. It features more than 150 exhibits including interactive computer and video displays, films on a giant screen, live sea creatures in an exotic aquarium, touch pools and shark petting. The permanent exhibits are complemented by various national-caliber traveling exhibits that appear throughout the year. The Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built, is berthed next door. Call 664-1000 or visit www.nauticus.org.

The Virginia Air and Space Science Center is a dynamic part of the Downtown Hampton skyline. It is the official visitors’ center for the NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base and chronicles the history of aviation and aerospace research and development, much of which was done here in Hampton Roads. There are over 100 interactive exhibits, as well as historical aircraft—including the Apollo 12 command module and a full-sized model of the original airplane the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, NC. The 300-seat IMAX theatre presents state-of-the-art films on a screen three stories high. Next door is Hampton’s Carousel Park where you can ride a restored 1920 carousel from the former Buckroe Amusement Park. For information and IMAX movie times, call 7270900 or visit www.vasc.org.

The Virginia Living Museum exhibits feature animals and fish found in Virginia’s rivers, bay, mountains, swamps and caves. This indoor/outdoor attraction also has hands-on discovery centers, boardwalk trail with animals in naturalized habitats, state-of-theart digital planetarium, observatory, native plant gardens, green living building, plus children’s hands-on “Be a Keeper/Be A Vet” role-playing area and nature playground. Call 595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org.

From the plains of Africa to your own backyard, the Virginia Zoo has a world of wild discovery waiting for you. Open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. except for major winter holidays. Children under two get in FREE! Call 757-441-2374 or visit www. virginiazoo.org. 

ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL SITES & MUSEUMS

Below is contact information on many other historical sites and markers throughout the area. For additional information visit www.visitcoastalvirginia.com.

Aberdeen Gardens Historic Museum 332-4042

Adam Thoroughgood House

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum

Boykin’s Tavern

385-5100

437-8432

357-5182

Cape Henry Lighthouse 422-9421

Carter’s Grove Plantation

Caroline County Tourism

Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum

Chrysler Museum of Art

Endview Plantation

Ferry Plantation House

Fighter Factory

Fort Boykin

Fort Wool

Francis Land House

1-800-HISTORY

804-633-3490

294-3439

664-6200

887-1862

473-5182

539-8440

357-2291

727-6348

385-5100

Gloucester Museum of History (804) 693-1234

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Hampton University Museum

Hermitage Museum and Gardens

Hill House

Historic St. Lukes Church

322-2987

727-5308

423-2052

393-0241

357-3367

Hunter House Victorian Museum 623-9814

Isle of Wight County Museum 356-1223

Jamestown Settlement Museum 253-4838

Lee Hall Mansion 888-3371

The Lightship Museum 393-8591

Science Museums

Air Power Park and Museum www.visithampton.com/play/ listing/air-power-park/ 727-8311

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum www.awhm.org 437-8432

Chesapeake Planetarium www.cpschools.com/departments/ planetarium/ 547-0153

Children’s Museum of Virginia www.childrensmuseumva.com 393-5258

Edgar Cayce Visitor’s Center www.edgarcayce.org 428-3588

Nauticus, the National Maritime Center www.nauticus.org 664-1000

Norfolk Botanical Garden www.nbgs.org 441-5830

Virginia Air and Space Science Center www.vasc.org 727-0900

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Museum www.virginiaaquarium.com 385-3474 385-(FISH)

Virginia Zoological Park www.virginiazoo.org 441-2374

Lynnhaven House 460-1688

Military Aviation Museum 721-7767

Moses Myers House 333-6269

Nansemond Indian Museum www.nansemond.org

Naval Shipyard Museum 393-8591

Nelson House 898-2410

Newsome House 247-2360

Norfolk Police and Fire Rescue Museum 441-1526

Old Coast Guard Station 422-1587

Old Isle of Wight Courthouse 356-9016

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum 393-8591

Prince George County (804) 722-8609

Railroad Museum of Virginia 335-2284

Rosewell House (804) 693-2585

Seaboard Station Railroad Museum 923-4750

St. John’s Episcopal Church 722-2567

The James A. Fields House 245-1991 Upper Wolfsnare 491-3490

U.S. Army Transportation Museum 878-1180

The Prentis House 514-4130

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame 393-8031

Watermen’s Museum 887-2641

Walter Reed Birthplace (804) 693-6688

Visit West Point & King William County (804) 843-3330

Willoughby-Baylor House 664-6200