Adventure outside of the Virginia Beach area to check out these amazing museums!
Chrysler Museum of Art
1 Memorial Place, Norfolk • 757-664-6200 • Website
Combining a passion for visual arts and community engagement, the Chrysler Museum of Art houses one of the premier art collections in the American South. Featuring an extensive collection spanning thousands of years—along with a world-renowned glass art collection—the museum offers enriching exhibits, lectures, and studio programs.
Features:
- Expansive temporary and permanent art exhibitions
- Extensive digital and print collections
- Guided tours, public lectures, and gallery talks
- Studio art classes and community workshops
The Chrysler Museum of Art’s Glass Studio:
- State-of-the-art facility offering public classes and specialized workshops (Glassblowing, Flameworking, Solid Working, Sandcasting, Glass Fusing, Coldworking, and Kilncasting)
- Third Thursday: Popular evening events featuring live music, a cash bar, and glass art demonstrations
- Changing exhibition spaces in the studio vestibule
- Studio rentals and private lessons available
Nauticus
1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk • 757-664-1000 • Website
Nauticus is a premier maritime science and technology center that celebrates Hampton Roads’ rich naval heritage and the economic power of the sea. Anchored on the downtown Norfolk waterfront, it is also home to the iconic battleship USS Wisconsin.
Features:
- Dynamic interactive and permanent science exhibits
- National-caliber traveling exhibitions
- High-definition immersive films and digital displays
- Marine life exhibits, including shark touch tanks
- On-site home of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum
- Self-guided and interior guided tours of the USS Wisconsin
Special Programs & Activities:
- Seasonal youth STEM and summer camps
- Guided Command and Control tours
- Annual film festivals and community events
- Specialized scout programs and the Junior Scientists Club
Norfolk Southern Museum
3 Commercial Place, Norfolk • 800-667-3655 • Website
Step into the history of railroading at the Norfolk Southern Museum, where visitors can explore historical artifacts, vintage equipment, and the colorful heritage of modern rail transportation. Admission is free and open to the public.
Features:
- Vintage railroad hand tools and signaling diagrams used for trainee instruction
- Close-up views of heavy-duty railroad hardware, including a massive 900-pound railroad coupler
- Interactive locomotive simulators
- Comprehensive historical exhibits and archival artifacts
- Civil War-era track sections
