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The museum celebrates the history, heritage and future of historic Aberdeen Gardens. Free admission, call to schedule a tour.
Historical home built circa 1719. Tours and special events. Free admission for tours.
Organization dedicated to collecting local African history and promoting, encouraging, and coordinating original historical activities, relating to African Americans in the Portsmouth area through oral and written interviews and other research activities.
Free Museum Admission- Rockets and Aircraft within the Park. Playground.
Living history museum sharing an awareness and understanding of the early history, settlement, and development of the United States through the convergence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the enduring legacies bequeathed to the nation. Summer History Camps available.
The Armed Forces Memorial is a 160-foot monument with 20 bronze cast letters (actual letters from members of the Armed Forces who never returned from war) scattered across the base of a flagpole.
Seasonal. Art & artifacts documenting the migratory birds that pass through this area of Eastern Virginia.
Performance venue and historical landmark in Norfolk.
The Barry Art Museum is operated by the Old Dominion University Museum Foundation, in partnership with Old Dominion University. Admission is Free. Public programs and activities are offered.
Historic site where five miles of evidence from the Battle of Dam #1 can still be found.
Scene of the April 5, 1862 Battle of Lee's Mill.
Follow markers through Town Point Park and Downtown Norfolk on the self-guided tour. Download map on the website link.
Historical site and home of The Confederate Monument. Guided lantern tours offered.
Memorial dedicated to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Hands-On Exhibits, Activities and Events. Birthday Parties, Summer Camps and Homeschool Programs are available. Planetarium. Sensory-Friendly Hours are regularly scheduled.
Art Museum. General admission is free. Free family activities including family festivals, story time, pre-k programs, glass-blowing demonstrations and more. Homeschool Studio, Scouts events, summer camps available. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 12-5pm.
I'm sure I could spend a few more days deep diving the exhibits, but given the amount of time we have, it was great to cover all the majors in a matter of hours. Good starter for young kids so they don't leave with a terrified boring experience and never wanting to see another art museum.
There are so many enrichment events throughout the week as well, most recently my husband and I attended a morning meditation in the gallery. It was amazing to sit and go through a guided meditation based on one of the paintings in the modern art gallery.
Everything feels relaxed and well thought out. The galleries are clean, well lit, and not overwhelming, so you can actually enjoy what you’re seeing instead of feeling rushed or overloaded. The staff is friendly and helpful without hovering, which is always appreciated.
And honestly, the fact that it’s free makes it even better. It’s perfect for a casual afternoon, a date, or just wandering around when you want to do something different.
If you’re in Norfolk or the surrounding area, it’s absolutely worth stopping by. Easy, enjoyable, and way better than you might expect.
Be sure to stop by Zinnia while you’re there. It’s the perfect spot for lunch—fresh, flavorful food, a relaxing atmosphere, and a great way to round out your visit. Highly recommend both the museum and the café for a lovely, low-key day out.
Will definitely come back in the future for newer installations.
The staff was very kind, they open the door for you upon arrival and exit. They ask for your zip code at check-in, and give you a visitors guide. The staff are very helpful in answering questions as well. They have a beautiful piano played by some of the most memorable names in classical music, and we asked if someone could play it. They informed us that they have professional pianists come to play it to keep it in good condition. We are looking forward to coming back at a time when we can hear it.
For a free admission, this museum is a must for history lovers!
As someone who works at a Museum, I was surprised that the Chrysler Museum had no security check through to go by with all the precious artifacts they hold inside. I worry that someone could easily get into it!
We rank this as one of our favorite venues in Hampton Roads to film in and highly recommend it to everybody we meet that are still searching for the right venue for them, especially if you love art.
If you'd like to see their film, you can find it on our website and Instagram for some inspiration!
A series of Civil War battle sites also used as a path for the Underground Railroad.
The Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg recreates the atmosphere and lifestyle of Virginia’s colonial capital city. The Historic Area includes 89 original 18th-century buildings, as well as hundreds more buildings reconstructed based on historical records and archaeological research. Explore our community, interact with historical interpreters, and learn more about the daily lives of the diverse men and women who lived in Williamsburg before and during the American Revolution.
Scene of the sinking of the U.S.S. Cumberland and U.S.S. Congress by the ironclad C.S.S. Virginia.
d'Art Center hosts art exhibitions, houses gallery and studio spaces with on-site resident artists to interact with, and provides interactive programming. The center also offers art-focused summer camp programming for ages 6 - 14 in June - August, and children's workshops and classes for ages 6+!
A historical home built in 1769 this house has witnessed the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Tours, exhibits, special events and programs throughout the entire year. Civil War Camps.
Historic Federalist style home built in 1830. Tours of the home, special events, and summer camps available.
Historical site of the first church in Suffolk.
Free Casement Museum Admission.
For at least 400 years, the point of land known as Old Point Comfort that now includes Fort Monroe has served as the key defensive site at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
Due to its historical and cultural significance, Fort Monroe was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and recognized as the Fort Monroe National Monument through an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in 2011.