Current Visiting Museum Exhibits in Hampton Roads

There are so many amazing museums and historical locations in Virginia, it can be hard to keep track of when exhibits are coming and going. This list includes current and upcoming exhibits (not permanent – but time-limited, visiting exhibits) in the Hampton Roads area museums. Please check the descriptions for each exhibit when making plans – not all are designed with young children in mind! 

Looking for our Full List of Local Museums and Historical Places? CLICK HERE.

Looking for Current Discounts for Admission and Membership to Hampton Roads Area Museums? CLICK HERE!

FEATURED EXHIBITS:

CURRENT & FUTURE EXHIBITS

Why You’ll Find So Many Visiting Museum Exhibits in Hampton Roads

If it feels like there is always something new to see around here, that’s because there usually is. This region packs an unusual number of museums into a fairly small stretch of coastline, and most of them rotate a visiting exhibit or two through the year on top of whatever is permanently on display.

A lot of that comes down to the detailed history of Hampton Roads, and the state of Virginia. We have a working port, centuries of colonial and Civil War history quite literally in the ground, one of the largest military communities in the country, and a shoreline that shaped all of it.

Maritime museums, history museums, and military museums have a deep well to draw from, and it also makes this area an appealing stop for national touring exhibits looking for an audience that already cares about those subjects.

Then there is the incredible arts scene. Between the our local art museums, university galleries, and city-run cultural arts centers, there is a steady stream of shows that turn over every few months. Add in the hands-on science & nature centers and museums with entire exhibits catering to children – and you end up with a calendar that genuinely changes all year long.

You will find museums and historical places in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach on the Southside, and up through Hampton, Newport News, and Yorktown on the Peninsula, and out toward Williamsburg. Most locations are no more than about an hour from home, which makes a weekday afternoon trip realistic even when you’re not planning a whole day out.

How to Plan Around a Visiting Exhibit

A few things to plan for, to make sure you don’t get there… to discover your exhibit has moved on.

• Check the run dates first. Traveling exhibits usually stay a few weeks to a few months. The ones with good word of mouth get crowded in their final two weeks, so going early is almost always easier with children in tow.
• Read the description before you commit. Not every visiting exhibit is designed with young kids in mind. Some are genuinely aimed at adults, and a few cover subject matter you may want to preview first.
• Timed tickets are common for the bigger touring shows, and they do sell out on weekends and during school breaks.
• Ask about reciprocity. If you already hold a membership somewhere, it may get you in free or at a reduced rate at other museums around the region and sometimes well beyond it.

Cost can be a big part of the decision for many families. Plenty of area museums run free admission days, reduced evening hours, or discounted family rates at certain points in the year, and military families have options worth knowing about before anyone pays full price. To help with the savings – we keep a running list for you – Local Museum Admission & Membership Discounts.

Looking for more ways to fill an afternoon? Once you have checked out our listings of Local Museums & Historical Places…. you can browse our list of Free things to do with kids in Hampton Roads. Need a backup plan for weather? Our guide to indoor playgrounds and play spaces has you covered!

Exhibit dates and admission details change often. Please check directly with the museum before you head out.