We spent the summer and fall of 2023 workamping in Virginia. While we spent a lot of our downtime touring the historic sites of Virginia, we also made time to visit some science museums in eastern Virginia. Interested in our whole itinerary? Now you can download it for free!
Nauticus Museum, Norfolk, VA
The Nauticus Museum in Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to learn about maritime history and see the battleship Wisconsin BB-64. The museum has exhibits on naval ships, the history of Norfolk, and the Navy’s efforts to protect the environment.
Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, VA
The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News offers a deep dive into maritime history for just $1! Explore a vast collection of boats from around the world and the museum’s crown jewel, the “Monitor Center,” featuring full-scale replicas of Civil War ironclads and even real, salvaged parts of the USS Monitor.
Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond
The Science Museum of Virginia offers a fun and educational experience for all ages, with exhibits on space exploration, music, physics, and more. The museum is a bit of a maze due to its location in a historic train station. Be sure to plan extra time for navigating.
Virginia Living Museum
From dinosaurs to modern ecosystems, the Virginia Living Museum has a bit of everything. Because of this, nothing really shines. If you can’t decide on a zoo or a museum, maybe this one is for you.
Virginia Air and Space Museum, Hampton, VA
Compared to the Smithsonian, or any of the other air and space museums we’ve visited, this one is probably the least memorable. From dingy displays to a lack of information or interaction, the Virginia Air and Space Museum doesn’t have much going for it.
If you only have limited time in Virginia, it definitely shines in its historic sites, particularly the Historic Triangle. However, if you have more time, check out some of these Science Museums of Eastern Virginia!