our Heritage

Still Very Much Alive

Historic museums and sites of interest are everywhere in Hampton roads. that’s largely due to the historical richness of our past.

Hampton roads is home to our nation’s Historic trangle: Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. Here you can experience the story of America’s beginnings at the Jamestown settlement and the Yorktown Victory center. through film, artifact-filled galleries and outdoor living history, these museums engage visitors in nearly two centuries of our nation’s history—from the founding of America’s first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the decisive revolutionary War victory in 1781 and implementation of the constitution and Bill of rights.

costumed historical interpreters depict the daily lives of the people who lived through these events two and three centuries ago. this is all done in faithfully re-created settings—three replica ships, a Powhatan indian village, and a colonial fort at Jamestown Settlement; and a revolutionary war encampment and 1780s farm at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown at these living museums, you can grind corn, steer with a whipstaff, try on english armor, enlist in the continental army or assist with farm chores. call 253-4838 or toll free 1-888-593-4682 or visit www.historyisfun.org.

Colonial Williamsburg is the restored capital of colonial virginia, where history lives so “that the future may learn from the past.” You can explore the nation’s history and learn what it means to be an american while visiting more than eighty original buildings, restored to their 18thcentury grandeur. see how the people lived, from the richest to the poorest. Play the games the children played, watch craftsmen at work, and sample some colonial fare. while colonial williamsburg’s sites are open year round, many people choose to visit in December to enjoy the grand illumination, an annual spectacle of light and music for residents and visitors

Sentry at Gloucester Courthouse

alike. call 1-855-756-9516 or visit on the web at www.history.org.

the Colonial National Historical Park stretches from the York river to the James river and is home to Yorktown and the Yorktown Battlefield, site of the last major battle of the american revolutionary war. Yorktown Battlefield is administered by the national Park service, and is part of the colonial national Historical Park which includes Jamestown and the colonial Parkway, which connects the Historic triangle of Jamestown, williamsburg and Yorktown. For more information, call the Park’s headquarters at 898-3400, or visit www.nps.gov/colo/index.htm.

the Mariners’ Museum, one of the largest international maritime museums in the world, features more than 35,000 maritime items, including ship models, the august crabtree collection of miniature ships, scrimshaw, maritime paintings, decorative arts, intricately carved figureheads and working steam engines. the Mariners’ Museum is also the custodian of the artifacts and archives of the civil war ironclad Uss Monitor. the Uss Monitor center is a home to the priceless artifacts recovered from the 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 military Aviation museum, Virginia Beach in western newport news, just inside the front gate of Ft. 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 7271610 or visit www.hampton.gov/119/ Hampton-History-Museum.

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.

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.

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.

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-squarefoot 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 complimented 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 capsule and a full-sized model of the original plane 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 727-0900 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-the-art 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. • norfolk naval station, the world’s largest naval base riverside is driven by the care designed and delivered by over 500 clinical providers, who function as the riverside Medical group. riverside operates 941 inpatient beds in five acute care hospitals, a psychiatric hospital, a physical rehabilitation hospital plus our Hampton roads specialty Hospital along with an extensive array of outpatient diagnostic and treatment facilities. riverside regional is the health system’s hub for Medical education, providing physician training through the riverside Family Practice and oB/ gYn residency programs, and the riverside school of Health careers which was established in 1916. additionally, our life long Health Division has three vibrant continuing care retirement communities, six Pace centers (Program for all inclusive care for the elderly), nine long-term care facilities, totaling 1700 beds with skilled, intermediate and home-foradult services, two wellness centers, and the region’s leading home care organization. recognized nationally for quality and innovation, Sentara has a history of bringing medical advances first to the region such as robotic surgery, cancer improvements, and heart and other surgical procedures. sentara was first in the nation to pioneer lifesaving electronic icU (eicU®). this comprehensive health system is comprised of 10 hospitals in virginia, including the region’s only level 1 trauma center and dedicated heart hospital at sentara norfolk general Hospital. other community needs are met through its nursing and assisted living facilities, advanced imaging centers, outpatient care campuses in the region, array of awardwinning health plans, home health and hospice services, rehabilitation facilities, and nearly 400 world-class physicians of sentara Medical group. sentara is also known for its compassionate care and service to the community, especially for the area’s less fortunate. For years, sentara has touched the lives of thousands of people who are uninsured or underinsured. sentara provides more than $214.5 million in community benefits. of that, more than $183.2 million was provided in uncompensated patient care. community benefit provided by our hospitals Martha Jefferson Hospital and rMH Healthcare are tallied separately. sentara also replaced nightingale air ambulance with a new state-of-the-art helicopter. the $7.2M eurocopter ec-145 was partly funded by donations from local governments, corporations, foundations and individuals of that exceeded $3.5M. nightingale operates at a yearly deficit of up to $600,000 due to a high percentage uninsured patients, and sentara maintains the service as part of its not-for-profit commitment to the community. recently the sentara neurosciences institute was formed in collaboration with eastern virginia Medical school and other neuroscience experts to advance treatment for diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles in virginia. another major area hospital is the Mary Immaculate Hospital, an affiliate of the Bon secours Health system, inc., a not-for-profit, catholic healthcare system that employs over 4,000 people. the hospital features a 42,000-squarefoot surgical Pavilion. the Pavilion is technologically-advanced, equipped with digital operating rooms. Digital operating rooms use a HerMes control-center that enables surgeons to use voice activation to control surgical equipment such as cameras, lights and tables. the or also includes an image management system that provides high quality, digital images in real-time.

With many medical advancements and expansions, all Hampton Roads health care facilities are developing new and innovative ways of providing care, while keeping a vigilant eye on the need for a personalized approach to patient care.

Founded in 1915, Riverside Health System has evolved from a small hospital in newport news, virginia, into one of the most progressive and diversified nonprofit healthcare organizations in the nation. a voluntary Board of trustees governs each major division or facility within this system that now serves over 700,000 individuals across southeastern virginia and the eastern shore.

Heart care in the region has been dramatically improved through sentara cardiovascular research institute which increased cardiac research and treatment options for area heart patients. sentara also continues bringing care closer to home by enhancing its comprehensive outpatient campuses like sentara independence in virginia Beach, sentara Port warwick in newport news, sentara gloucester Medical arts, and sentara BelleHarbor offers north suffolk residents quality health care.

Bon Secours in Hampton roads also includes the Bon secours Maryview Medical center in Midtown Portsmouth which opened a new $16.5-million heart institute in november, 2005, and Bon secours DePaul Medical center in norfolk. the system also includes several physical therapy centers, primary care centers, and the ambulatory surgery and diagnostic centers in suffolk and in virginia Beach, in addition to nursing care and assisted living facilities throughout the southside area.

Chesapeake Health is another local, independent health organization serving Hampton roads. it’s comprised of chesapeake regional Medical center, the w stanley Jennings outpatient center and several companion providers that offer a broad range of programs and services for southeastern virginia residents. it recently opened the free-standing Diagnostic center of chesapeake and the area’s only in-patient women’s Unit.

For many specialized needs for children, Hampton roads citizens can go to Eastern Virginia Medical School or the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, the only hospital in southeastern virginia devoted exclusively to children. For the most critically injured victims, sentara norfolk general Hospital features a level i trauma center and the nightingale helicopter service. in addition, the Medical college of virginia in richmond is just a 90-minute drive northwest.