One of our favorite science museums that we visited while staying in Virginia was the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News. Best of all, admission was only a dollar a person!
This museum was a mix of maritime art, artifacts, and even whole boats.
When I say boats, I do mean boats! They have one building that is full of different boats from different parts of the world. From canvas and wood single-person coracles to handmade power boats, and a bevy of canoes, kayaks, and catamarans from indigenous cultures around the world.
The cornerstone of the museum is its “Monitor Center.” The museum staff built a whole wing dedicated to the Battle of Hampton Roads, complete with full-scale replicas of the CSS Virginia and the Monitor. They actually have several replicas of the monitor. From a full-scale mockup outside that visitors can walk around on, to mockups of the officer’s quarters and galley.
All of this leads visitors to actual parts of the USS Monitor. It was raised from the bottom of the Atlantic and stabilized on-site for display. We were able to see the Monitor’s propeller, sections of the drive shaft, and anchor. We even got to look into the stabilization tanks where the staff have been working on stabilizing the turret!
If you do visit, make sure to get copies of the scavenger hunt. It’s what got us to visit everything the museum had to offer and made the experience much more engaging for the kids and me. If you’re in the Historic Triangle and need a break from the outdoors, give the Mariners’ Museum at Newport News a shot!