Nauticus facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Established | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Location | One Waterside Drive Norfolk, Virginia United States |
| Type | Maritime |
Nauticus is an exciting science center and museum all about the ocean and ships! It's located right on the downtown waterfront in Norfolk, Virginia. Many people also know it as the National Maritime Center.
Contents
History of Nauticus
Nauticus began its journey in February 1988. A retired Navy officer, Rear Admiral Jackson Knowles Parker, helped start the project.
Construction began in February 1992 on the site of an old pier. Nauticus officially opened its doors to the public in June 1994. It's located near other fun places like the Virginia Zoo and Harbor Park, where the Norfolk Tides baseball team plays.
What You Can See at Nauticus
Nauticus has several cool areas to explore, including a cruise ship terminal, a giant battleship, and a sailing center.
Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center
The City of Norfolk opened the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center at Nauticus on April 7, 2007. This large building is about 80,000 square feet. It's designed to welcome cruise ship passengers.
The center has great views of the Elizabeth River. It also features a special walkway for passengers and a retractable bridge leading to a marina. The first cruise ship to arrive was RCI's Empress of the Seas on April 28, 2007.
The Half Moone is also a popular place for events. It has about 23,000 square feet of event spaces. These areas include exhibits that share stories about the history of Virginia and Bermuda.
The name "Half Moone" comes from an old fort. A fort shaped like a "half moone" was built on this same spot in 1673. It helped protect Norfolk's growing shipping industry. In April 2024, the Carnival Legend cruise ship docked at Half Moone after its original port was unavailable.
USS Wisconsin Battleship
_Afloat_Lab,_YP-679,_Starfish,_pulls_alongside_the_Iowa-class_battleship_USS_Wisconsin_(BB_64),_located_at_The_National_Maritime_Center_Nauticus_on_the_Elizabeth_Rive.jpg)
One of the biggest battleships ever built, the USS Wisconsin, arrived at Nauticus on December 7, 2000. This date was special because it was the 57th anniversary of the ship's launch in 1943. That was exactly two years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The USS Wisconsin opened for tours of its main deck on April 16, 2001. This date marked 57 years since the ship was first put into service in 1944.
The Wisconsin is one of four Iowa|battleship|2-class battleships built for the United States Navy. It was constructed from 1941 to 1943. It played a big part in World War II, earning five battle stars for its service. The ship also served during the Korean War. Later, it led the Navy’s attack on Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991. It fired the first Tomahawk missile of that campaign.
On April 16, 2010, the United States Navy officially gave ownership of the ship to the city of Norfolk, Virginia. This was exactly 66 years after it was first put into service. By the end of November 2009, over 2.4 million visitors had walked the decks of the Wisconsin. People from all over the world have come to see this historic battleship.
Sail Nauticus
Sail Nauticus is a special non-profit organization started by the Nauticus Foundation in 2013. It's a community sailing center that offers programs for both adults and young people. Its main program is the Sail Nauticus Academy. This after-school program works with Norfolk Public Schools. It teaches middle school students about sailing and ocean sciences using a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) approach.
Nauticus also offers Victory Rover Naval Base Cruises. These boat tours take people around the water to see Naval Station Norfolk and the Port of Virginia. They sometimes offer special tours like whale watching and dolphin watching.
Exhibits and Fun at Nauticus
The museum has many hands-on exhibits and interactive theaters. It also features aquariums, high-definition films, and lots of educational programs. Nauticus has a large screen theater called The Broke Theater. It shows different nature and nautical films.
On the third floor, Nauticus opened a new exhibit in May 2023 called "Norfolk in Time." This exhibit tells stories about Norfolk's history, culture, science, and industry. It shows how the city has been strong through many challenges. Also on the third floor, Nauticus opened an exhibit in June 2023 called Aquaticus. This area is designed for younger visitors and includes a large play place with a slide. The Nautical Neighborhood Aquarium is also on the third floor.
The second floor of Nauticus is home to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. This floor also has the entrance to the battleship Wisconsin.
Images for kids
-
The main building of Nauticus.
