Hampton Roads Naval Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Location | One Waterside Drive, Suite 248 Norfolk, Virginia United States |
| Type |  U.S. Navy Naval History |
The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is a cool place to learn about the U.S. Navy! It's one of ten Navy museums run by the Naval History & Heritage Command. This museum shows off the Navy's long history in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. You can find it right next to Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. In 2008, the museum earned a special award from the American Alliance of Museums. This award means it's a top-notch museum!
Contents
The museum has many awesome exhibits for you to explore. You can learn about important events like the Battle of the Chesapeake from 1781. There are also exhibits about the American Civil War in the Hampton Roads area.
You'll discover stories about the famous Great White Fleet and its world tour. The museum also covers big conflicts like World War II and the Cold War. These exhibits help you understand how the U.S. Navy has changed over time.
Amazing Artifacts and Shipwrecks
The museum has a fantastic collection of naval prints and detailed ship models. They also have items found through underwater archaeology. This means they study things found deep under the sea!
The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is home to parts of two Civil War shipwrecks. These are the USS Cumberland and the CSS Florida. It's like stepping back in time to see these real pieces of history.
Museum's Journey Through Time
The museum first opened its doors on August 31, 1979. It was located in a special building called the Pennsylvania House. This building looked just like Independence Hall! It was one of the buildings left over from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, a big world's fair.
In 1984, a huge exhibit about the American Civil War in Hampton Roads was added. This was a major project for the museum.
Moving to a New Home
Later, the city of Norfolk invited the museum to move. They wanted it to be part of a new maritime center downtown. The Navy agreed to this exciting offer.
In 1994, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum opened in its new spot. This new home was the Nauticus National Maritime Center. The move gave the museum much more space for exhibits. It also allowed them to offer many more educational programs for visitors.
The USS Wisconsin Battleship
In 2000, the museum started managing the battleship USS Wisconsin. This giant ship was docked right next to Nauticus. It opened for public tours on April 16, 2001.
However, in December 2009, the Navy gave the battleship to the city of Norfolk. This meant the museum no longer looked after the ship.
Programs and Resources for Visitors
The museum often has special temporary exhibits. Some past ones include "Animals and the US Navy" and "Cuba Libre: The Spanish–American War in the Caribbean." These exhibits cover unique parts of naval history.
You can also join guided tours to learn even more. The museum offers a lecture series with interesting speakers. They also have many educational programs for all ages. A group of dedicated volunteers helps with everything the museum does.
Research and Online Learning
If you love history, you can visit their reference library. They have archives and photos about naval history in the Hampton Roads area. You just need to make an appointment first.
The museum also has a weekly blog post about naval history. It covers many topics related to the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. The museum's historian, volunteers, and staff all help create this interesting content.
See also
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- List of museum ships
