The state of Virginia is a place full of local culture, natural beauty, and rich history. Situated along the East Coast, Virginia offers a little bit of everything, from amazing Atlantic coastline to breathtaking mountain vistas and everything in between. The wide variety of picturesque destinations makes the state a popular choice for an RV vacation, and fortunately, there are plenty of RV parks to choose from throughout Virginia. These RV campgrounds and resorts offer many different amenities and range from primitive campsites to luxury destinations in themselves, providing a place for any type of RV traveler.
1. Americamps RV Resort
The Americamps RV Resort is a beautiful RV park in Ashland, Virginia that offers all of the necessary amenities for a comfortable RV camping experience. The big-rig friendly RV campground features true “Southern Charm” and nearly 200 full hookup, pristine RV sites, consisting of 93 back-in sites and 105 pull-through sites. There is also a variety of amenities available to guests at the Americamps RV Resort, such as a spacious fenced area for pets, a 24-hour fitness center, two laundry facilities, a bathhouse, complimentary WiFi and cable television, a seasonal swimming pool area, the Rally Room, and much more. Browse our Romantic Weekend Getaways in Virginia guide for more ideas.
11322 Air Park Rd, Ashland, VA 23005, Phone: 804-798-5298
2. American Heritage RV Park
The American Heritage RV Park in Williamsburg, Virginia is a place for both adventure seekers and history buffs alike. Located near popular attractions like Busch Gardens, Water Country, and historic downtown Williamsburg, the RV park benefits from a convenient location, yet is still able to offer peaceful and quiet RV campsites. The pet-friendly American Heritage RV Park is spread across seventy acres of woodlands and lush green meadows, and offers full hook-up sites and an array of amenities, like a lending library, basketball and volleyball courts, a swimming pool, a fenced-in dog run, cable TV, and wireless internet.
146 Maxton Ln, Williamsburg, VA 23188, Phone: 888-530-2267
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3. Aquia Pines Camp Resort, Virginia
The Aquia Pines Camp Resort is a full-service and pet-friendly campground located in the town of Stafford. In addition to providing a place where travelers can create closer bonds with their friends and family, as well as connect more with nature, the pet-friendly RV park and campground also offers numerous amenities, such as laundry facilities, clean showers and restrooms, a game room, a basketball hoop, a seasonal swimming pool, a playground, two community fire rings, free firewood, wireless internet, a camp store, and an on-site microbrewery. The Aquia Pines Camp Resort is also conveniently located near Washington, D.C. and historic Fredericksburg.
3071 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554, Phone: 540-659-3447
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4. Bethpage Camp-Resort
The Bethpage Camp-Resort is a RV park and campground that aims to provide guests with a true resort experience. Located in Urbanna, the resort offers a unique RV camping experience near the Virginia coastline. The Bethpage Camp-Resort provides all of the amenities travelers would expect of a RV park and then some, including an aqua jump at the lake, miniature golf, and a water park to name a few. There are also showers and laundry facilities and campsites are equipped with wireless internet, cable television, and full hookups. The property also includes a poolside cafe and the Beach House Grill.
679 Browns Ln, Urbanna, VA 23175, Phone: 804-758-4349, (website link)
More ideas: Virginia Beaches
5. Chantilly Festival Farm and RV Campground
The Chantilly Festival Farm and RV Campground in Floyd, Virginia provides full hookup RV sites, as well as tent campsites and several amenities. The campground includes twenty-five full hookup RV campsites with sewer, electric, and water hookups, in addition to the many beautiful spots to pitch a tent, all located in the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Amenities at the Chantilly RV Campground include fire pits, an ATM, a dump station, great birdwatching areas, trails for biking and hiking, free wireless internet, two bathhouses, and more. There is also a drink machine and an “honor-fridge” stocked with snacks at the campground office.
2697 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd, VA 24091, Phone: 540-808-4984
More ideas: Things to Do in Floyd
6. Fort Chiswell RV Park, Virginia
The Fort Chiswell RV Park, located in the town of Max Meadows, features spacious RV sites that are able to accommodate any size of rig, with the majority of the sites being pull-through. Situated conveniently right off of Interstate 8 and Interstate 77, the RV campground is an ideal place to use as a home base for exploring the southwestern area of Virginia. A tranquil pond and lush green meadows are peaceful sights awaiting visitors, as well as amenities that include a recreation room, complimentary cable television and wireless internet, a heated pool, and modern laundry facilities.
312 Fort Chiswell Rd, Max Meadows, VA 24360, Phone: 276-637-6868
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7. Fredericksburg / Washington DC South KOA Holiday
The Fredericksburg/Washington DC South KOA Holiday Campground is a centrally located RV park in Fredericksburg, Virginia that benefits from easy access to and from Interstate 95 and provides a peaceful setting for families to get a good night’s sleep and to explore the historic area near Washington, DC. Amenities at the campground include complimentary WiFi, 50-amp electric service, cable television, a season swimming pool, firewood and propane, bike rentals, a pavilion, and fishing areas. There is also an array of recreation options at the campground, such as cornhole, the Canal Path Heritage Trail, the Salamander Loop Walking Trail, fishing, and much more.
7400 Brookside Ln, Fredericksburg, VA 22408, Phone: 540-898-7252, (website link)
More ideas: Things to Do in Fredericksburg
8. Fries New River RV Park
The Fries New River Trail RV Park is an RV campground in Fries, Virginia along the river, offering spacious RV sites surrounded by the state’s lush forest hills in a mountain hollow. Amazing mountain views greet guests in the morning, along with the sounds of the tranquil river and chirping birds. There are also modern amenities available to guests at the Fries New River RV Park as well, including full hook-ups at each RV site, complimentary cable television, and complimentary wireless internet. The nearby charming town of Fries is another draw for RV travelers to the park.
26 Dalton Rd, Fries, VA 24330, Phone: 276-233-1178
More ideas: Day Trips from Virginia
9. Gwynn's Island RV Resort, Virginia
Gwynn's Island RV Resort is located at the end of the historic Gwynn’s Island in Virginia and is a recreation destination providing both wooded and oceanfront campsites for both tent campers and RV campers. Gwynn's Island RV Resort offers 30 and 50 amp service, full hookups, picnic tables, a max length of fifty feet, both gravel and grassy sites, and back-in RV sites. Amenities at the campground include WiFi access, shower and restroom facilities, a store, picnic area, beach access, a playground, kayak and canoe rentals, community activities, and much more. There are also several attractions and nature trails nearby.
551 Buckchase Rd, Gwynn, VA 23066, Phone: 888-723-2535
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10. Harbor View RV & Camping Resort
The Harbor View RV and Camping Resort in Colonial Beach, Virginia offers travelers a great place to stay for a while with several historic towns and the picturesque Potomac River at its doorstep. Among the many amenities available at the Harbor View RV Resort are a clubhouse, miniature golf, clean shower and restroom facilities, a swimming pool, a playground, a barbeque and picnic area, laundry facilities, basketball courts, volleyball courts, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and a library. These numerous on-site amenities combined with beautiful towns along the Bay, wineries, and the Westmoreland Berry Farm nearby, make the RV park a convenient and comfortable choice.
15 Harbor View Cir, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, Phone: 877-570-2267
More ideas: Things to Do in Virginia Beach
11. Holiday Trav-L-Park
The Holiday Trav-L-Park in Virginia Beach strives to offer something for the entire family, as well as all types of campers, from tent campers to RV travelers. The property is also the RV park and campground located closest to Virginia Beach’s resort area, offering a parking lot for guests just one block away from the beach. Visitors can also ride a bike or take the city’s seasonal trolley to the beach. Amenities at the campground include four playgrounds, four swimming pools and a kiddie pool open on a seasonal basis, a miniature golf course, volleyball and basketball courts, arcade games, and more.
1075 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, Phone: 757-425-0249
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12. Lake Ridge RV Resort, Virginia
The Lake Ridge RV Resort in Hillsville, Virginia is situated within the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of the United States, providing a picturesque destination for RV owners. The forested mountains provide an ideal backdrop for the rustic-style RV resort, as well as its several amenities. The natural surroundings are elevated by comfortable amenities that include modern bathroom facilities, a camp store, full hook-up RV sites, and a filling station for propane. The Lake Ridge RV Resort also offers planned activities and themed weekends, a miniature golf course, an arcade room, a stocked fishing pond, a movie room, and more.
8736 Double Cabin Rd, Hillsville, VA 24343, Phone: 276-766-3703
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13. Little Creek JEB Campground
The Little Creek JEB Campground is located parallel to Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay and is a full-service campground and RV park. There are forty-five RV sites with direct hookups for sewer, electric, and water service, as well as access to digital cable television. Other amenities at the Little Creek JEB Campground include an on-site laundry facility and a climate-controlled bathhouse for guest convenience. The property also includes free wireless internet throughout the grounds. For campers without an RV, a number of primitive campsites are available, ranging from accommodating a single tent to multiple tents for groups of campers.
2112 Amphibious Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23459, Phone: 757-462-7282
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14. Lynchburg RV Resort
The Lynchburg RV Resort is a seasonal RV park in Gladys, Virginia that operates between the months of May and October. The RV campground offers rustic tent campsites for campers without RV, 30-amp RV sites, and full hookup RV sites. Surrounded by endless farmland and rolling hills, the Lynchburg RV Resort provides a wide variety of seasonal activities for guests of all ages, including canoeing, fishing, and much more. In addition to the campsites, the property also features beaches and an area for swimming. There are several local attractions nearby as well, such as the Natural Bridge and historic Lynchburg.
405 Mollies Creek Rd, Gladys, VA 24554, Phone: 888-481-6348
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15. Natural Bridge - Lexington KOA Holiday
The Natural Bridge/Lexington KOA Holiday campground is located at the intersection of natural beauty, culture, and history, deep within the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Situated between the Allegheny Mountain and Blue Ridge mountain ranges, as well as surrounded by thousands upon thousands of acres of national forest, the area has plenty to offer for adventurous travelers. The Natural Bridge KOA campground offers a rural, wooded, and quiet setting and features cable TV, WiFi, a store, a game room, a dog park, a swimming pool, and more. For even more convenience, guests can have pizza delivered to their campsite.
214 Killdeer Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24578, Phone: 540-291-2770
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16. North Landing Beach RV Resort and Cottages
The North Landing Beach RV Resort and Cottages offers an amazing camping experience in Virginia Beach, with accommodations ranging from comfortable RV campsites to cottage rentals. While conveniently situated near Virginia Beach itself, guests don’t even have to leave the property in order to have a relaxing and fun-filled vacation thanks to the property’s amenities and year-round activities. Amenities at the pet-friendly North Landing Beach RV Resort include a seasonal swimming pool, a boating area, a well-stocked pond for fishing, a private beach, canoe and kayak rentals, arts and crafts, water sports, a water games area, and a playground.
161 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457, Phone: 757-426-6241, (website link)
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17. Ocean Pines RV Park
The town of Virginia Beach, Virginia is home to a number of great RV parks, and the Ocean Pines RV Park is no exception. Part of what makes the property ideal is that it is a gated RV community. Each of the RV sites are able to accommodate large rigs measuring up to forty feet in length or more. The gated RV park also features a spacious covered pavilion area that includes a gas grill for guests to use, a playground area, corn hole, horseshoes, laundry facilities, bathroom facilities, and an ADA-compliant welcome center. Complimentary wireless internet is provided as well.
4160 Nimitz Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23454, Phone: 757-417-7140
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18. Outdoor Resorts RV Resort (Surfside at Sandbridge)
Formerly known as the Outdoor Resorts Virginia Beach, the Surfside at Sandbridge in Virginia Beach is a gated luxury RV resort, situated just across the road from the ocean. The property features laundry facilities, bathhouses, a playground for children, a dog walk, tennis courts, basketball courts, a recreation room, a clubhouse, fitness center, two swimming pools, bicycle rentals, a dock, and a boat ramp. Guests can spend an afternoon taking a bike ride, reading a book on a sandy beach, paddle boarding along the Back Bay, fishing from the dock, and much more at the Surfside at Sandbridge.
3665 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, Phone: 757-721-2020
More ideas: Things to Do in Norfolk
19. Campgrounds in Virginia: Prince William Forest RV Campground
The Prince William Forest RV Campground is a popular RV park for nature enthusiasts as it is situated inside of the Prince William Forest Park in Dumfries, Virginia. Within the approximately fifteen thousand forested acres of land are twenty-one miles roads accessible to bicycles and thirty-seven miles of trails for hiking. While the natural, wooded setting with picturesque trails makes visitors feel as if they are far away from civilization, the Prince William Forest RV Campground’s facilities give a feeling of staying at a modern resort, such as laundry facilities, bathhouses with hot showers, and a swimming pool.
16058 Dumfries Rd, Dumfries, VA 22025, Phone: 703-221-2474
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20. Campgrounds in Virginia: Sea Mist RV Campground
The Sea Mist RV Campground, another RV park located in Virginia Beach, is situated on the Dam Neck Annex and provides an ideal location for RV owners wanting to have a camping experience near the beach. The RV campground is pet friendly and offers several amenities designed to make stays more comfortable for guests, such as bathhouses, two laundry facilities, convenient access to the beach, complimentary wireless internet throughout the property, gas grills, and two covered pavilions for gatherings. Each RV site features 50 and 30 amp electric service, sewer and water service, and concrete pads.
2076 Regulus Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23461, Phone: 757-492-7545
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21. Campgrounds in Virginia: The Colonies RV and Travel Park
The Colonies RV and Travel Park in Hampton, Virginia is situated within the scenic and historic setting of the Fort Monroe National Monument. The RV park features fourteen full-service campsites with paved pads and both 30 and 50 amp service, as well as nine RV sites with 30-amp service, water, and electricity. The Colonies RV Park also includes a party room, pavilions, and a country store selling cold drinks, bait, beach equipment, toys, jellies, jams, and more. The RV park is also located next to the Paradise Ocean Club, which has a tiki bar, variety of food, and an Olympic-sized pool.
501 Fenwick Rd, Hampton, VA 23651, Phone: 757-722-2201, (website link)
More ideas: Things to Do in Hampton
22. Campgrounds in Virginia: Virginia Beach KOA Holiday
The Virginia Beach KOA Holiday campground serves as a good home base for exploring the numerous local attractions of Virginia Beach, the three-mile iconic Boardwalk, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean beaches. RV owners can park their RV at one of the campground’s pull-through RV sites, featuring the KOA Patio, as well as complimentary wireless internet and cable television. The Virginia Beach KOA Holiday also boasts activities for the entire family, such as the Pocket Activity Park with a wide variety of family-friendly games and the Adventureworks Zip Line. There are also two pools with a giant slide.
1240 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, Phone: 757-428-1444
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23. Virginia Landing RV Campground
The Virginia Landing RV Campground in Quinby, Virginia is a secluded and rural RV park tucked away between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. Pleasant sea breezes flow through the property thanks to the park’s location along the coast, offering a destination of quiet and tranquility for RV owners to stay a night or two to enjoy a relaxing vacation. Guests can take part in nearly any water activity at the Virginia Landing RV Campground, and the property is particularly known for its view of Hog Island Bay. The neighboring town of Chincoteague is also home to an annual Pony Swim.
40226 Upshur Neck Road, Quinby, VA 23423, Phone: 888-481-6348
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24. Campgrounds Near Me: Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park
The Walnut Hills Campground and RV Park in the town of Staunton is a scenic and peaceful base for exploring the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and its many cultural, historical, and outdoor resources. The Walnut Hills RV Park features one of the biggest lending libraries of any campground, digital cable television, and wireless internet, as well as a lake that’s great for large-mouth bass fishing, a swimming pool, volleyball courts, horseshoes, a par-three disc golf course, and the GaGa Ball pit. There is also a Halloween Blowout at the campground during the last two weekends in October.
484 Walnut Hills Rd, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-337-3920
More ideas: Things to Do in Staunton
25. Campgrounds Near Me: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park of Natural Bridge
The Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park of Natural Bridge is situated along the James River, nestled within the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, between Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This family-friendly RV campground offers a fun, safe, and clean camping experience for visitors of all ages and includes the Cartoon Cafe, a camp store, a game room, a recreation center, modern bathhouses, and a laundry center. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park of Natural Bridge also hosts a wide variety of special events and activities throughout the year, including themed weekends throughout the season, such as Remember When, Chocolate Lover’s, and Wild, Wild West.
16 Recreation Ln, Natural Bridge, VA 24579, Phone: 540-291-2727
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The 25 Best RV Parks & Campgrounds in Virginia near me today according to local experts are:
- 1. Americamps RV Resort
- 2. American Heritage RV Park
- 3. Aquia Pines Camp Resort, Virginia
- 4. Bethpage Camp-Resort
- 5. Chantilly Festival Farm and RV Campground
- 6. Fort Chiswell RV Park, Virginia
- 7. Fredericksburg / Washington DC South KOA Holiday
- 8. Fries New River RV Park
- 9. Gwynn's Island RV Resort, Virginia
- 10. Harbor View RV & Camping Resort
- 11. Holiday Trav-L-Park
- 12. Lake Ridge RV Resort, Virginia
- 13. Little Creek JEB Campground
- 14. Lynchburg RV Resort
- 15. Natural Bridge - Lexington KOA Holiday
- 16. North Landing Beach RV Resort and Cottages
- 17. Ocean Pines RV Park
- 18. Outdoor Resorts RV Resort (Surfside at Sandbridge)
- 19. Campgrounds in Virginia: Prince William Forest RV Campground
- 20. Campgrounds in Virginia: Sea Mist RV Campground
- 21. Campgrounds in Virginia: The Colonies RV and Travel Park
- 22. Campgrounds in Virginia: Virginia Beach KOA Holiday
- 23. Virginia Landing RV Campground
- 24. Campgrounds Near Me: Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park
- 25. Campgrounds Near Me: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park of Natural Bridge
More Ideas: Science Museum of Western Virginia
The Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke is the oldest science museum in the state of Virginia. Established in 1970, it was founded by a small group of teachers and volunteers who wanted an informal education facility for educating the public about science. It has now evolved to encompass exhibits about technology, ecology, geology and meteorology among many other topics in its three-storey building.
Today, the downtown Roanoke museum has become a premier center for hands-on education in Virginia. Its mission is to make science accessible to the public as well as inspire life-long learning. Alongside permanent exhibits on health, energy and natural science, it is home to numerous live exhibits as well as a planetarium. The museum has also received accreditation from the American Association of Museums.
The crown jewel of the museum is the Butterfly Garden and Bug Zoo. This exhibit allows visitors to be surrounded by live butterflies from all around the world. With more than 40 species of butterflies, the largest of which has wings as long as 8 inches. Visitors will also be able to walk through the picturesque setting within the enclosure that features warm temperature all-year round, lush greenery and a water feature that forms part of the overall tropical rainforest ecosystem.
Keep a lookout for special cases where chrysalises are being hung from. Every week, the museum would import these pupae from Southeast Asia, Central and South America to add to the collection. Kids would be treated to an important lesson in the life cycle of butterflies as they witness the adult butterflies emerging out of their shells.
The bug zoo is part of the same exhibit that houses a variety of exotic creepy crawlies, from bird-eating tarantulas to orchid mantis and Halloween crabs. Interestingly, the food source needed to sustain these insects could all be found inside the Butterfly Garden. This includes plants for the herbivorous insects and a small farm of feeder insects for the carnivorous species.
Healthy Earth Gallery
The Healthy Earth Gallery focuses on the physical environment of Virginia. One of the exhibits Journey Underground explores the diverse geological features of Virginia. From the high rocky summits in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the low-lying islands facing the Atlantic Ocean, the exhibits traces the history and formation of the earth as well as the local terrain.
The OmniGlobe explores the wonders of our earth and the universe. Visitors could try playing with sand in the Augmented Reality Sandbox to build mountains, create valleys, and stimulate rainfall to understand about the water cycle and how it affects the river terrain. The exhibit uses 3D visualization applications to augment reality in real time as participants learn about earth science concepts while their hands are engaged in tactile activities. Meanwhile, kids can pretend to be a meteorologist and present weather news in front of the camera at a mock newsroom. They can also get up close with live river creatures at the touch tank to help foster their scientific curiosity. Staff will be present to guide them to stroke animals such as a horseshoe crab, sea star and various shelled creatures. Watch them squeal with delight as they get up close and personal with these animals.
The Healthy Bodies Gallery explores how the human body and systems work. On display are actual human organs that have been plastinated or chemically preserved so that visitors can have a peek of specimens from inside a real human body. Little explorers can also take a closer peek at the inner workings of our body through larger than life human organs where they can crawl through intestines and peek inside the mouth.
One of the highlights in this section is Mindball, a game that requires participants to compete against each other using mind power. To participate, players would have to wear headbands fitted with electrodes and attempt to move the ball towards the opponent’s goal using nothing but their brains’ electrical waveforms. Audiences would be able to monitor the players’ brain activities, which is visually presented on a screen throughout the match.
How it Works Gallery
The gallery discusses about recycling efforts that have been developed or are currently ongoing in western parts of Virginia. One of the section showcases the recycling process of steel, one of the most common recyclable metals. Through recycling, it seeks to preserve natural resources to reduce the environmental impact during the production of steel products. Exhibits in this gallery seek to help us become better stewards of our environment.
Maker Lab/Open Lab
The Maker Lab is an open space inside the museum that encourages individuals to allow their creative juices to flow. Using craft supplies local communities have donated, the museum has recycled it to encourage visitors to get their hands moving in creating new pieces of artwork. To get started, there are a Lego brick wall and a gear wall for kids to assemble and re-assemble plastic pieces in an infinite number of ways. Through such creative play, it teaches them to think laterally, develop problem-solving skills and improves creativity, all while having fun.
The Open Lab is staffed with volunteers who are trained to assist friends and families with performing two-dozen science experiments, which they can choose from. These experiments are conducted in a safe and controlled environment, and are therefore family friendly activities for adults and children alike.
The Children’s Curiosity Corner is designed for preschoolers who are younger than five years old. Some of the toddler-friendly activities include large puzzles and a fossil dig, which is an all-time favorite with young kids. Sand play not only stretches their imagination but also promotes physical development.
Pixel Play
Revisit old school arcade games at the Pixel Play exhibit. Participants can play on 50 original and functioning upright arcade cabinets just like the good old times with your friends and family. The upside is that no quarters are needed to play these games because it is already included within the admission cost. Some of the traditional arcade games to expect include Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Asteroids. Also hidden within the exhibit are ‘knowledge bombs ‘and ‘culture coins’ that users will have to uncover to find out ways science is linked to video games.
Education programs
As an informal education resource, the museum has education programs both onsite and offsite. The annual summer camp is one of the highlights among its offerings. The all-day camp offer kids hands-on opportunities to explore science concepts under the supervision of experience educators. The camps are age-specific and cover a range of topics from robotics to biology, which will cater to a wide variety of interests.
On a regular basis, the science museum offers 40 different science-based programs that could be conducted on site or in the schools’ classrooms. These courses are based on the state’s standards of learning so educators can be assured that they are relevant to their teaching materials. They are design to encourage students to adopt the scientific way of thinking and testing hypotheses, alongside learning science concepts and teamwork.
Teacher professional development workshops are also organized for educators who are looking for engaging ways of teaching STEM competencies. The workshops are typically organized to be a hands-on experience so as to inspire teachers to translate what they have learned back to enrich their classroom practice.
One Market Square SE, Suite 4, Roanoke, VA 24011, Phone: 540-342-5710
More Ideas: The Mariners' Museum & Park
The history of the ocean, as well as the relationship it has with humankind has been shared and showcased for more than 80 years in the Mariners' Museum in Virginia, one of the world's largest maritime museums. The museum was established in 1930 as a result of the vision shared by Homer L. Ferguson and Archer Milton Huntington. The first artifacts obtained by the Mariners' Museum were made in New England during the early 1930's.
Since the vision for the museum was meant to have an international scope, Huntington and Ferguson expanded their search of maritime material throughout the remainder of the 1930's from Europe to the West Indies, and even further beyond. The collection at the Mariners' Museum now consists of approximately thirty-two thousand objects, divided equally between three-dimensional objects and works of art. The core of the museum's Library is made up of the maritime books from the personal library of Huntington.
The Mariners' Museum and Park today is situated inside of an urban oasis. The 550-acre park home to the expansive Lake Maury, as well as the Noland Trail, which is five miles in length, follows along the shore, and crosses over fourteen bridges. The museum contains ninety thousand square feet of various exhibit galleries, such as the USS Monitor Center and the International Small Craft Center.
The award-winning USS Monitor Center is a conservation lab and state-of-the-art exhibit, housing 210 tons of Civil War ironclad Monitor artifacts. These were recovered from the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary managed by NOAA. The Library and Archives at the Mariners' Museum houses more than seventy-eight thousand books; eight hundred thousand films, photographs, and negatives; and more than one million archival materials, marking the museum's maritime library the largest in the Western Hemisphere.
The 550 acres of the Mariners' Museum and Park are privately managed, naturally wooded grounds that provide visitors with a serene and quiet space to enjoy a picnic, a leisurely stroll, or even a run. In addition to the trail and the museum itself, the park is also home to Lake Maury, which spans 167 acres and is named after the oceanographer Matthew Fontaine Maury. The Noland Trail takes visitors along the shore of this large lake.
One of the permanent features of the Mariners' Museum and Park is the Explorers Theater. This high-definition theater provides visitors with an opportunity to go beyond the experience of the museum and dive into and explore the undersea world. At the Explorers Theater, guests have the chance to experience three-dimensional films, as well as other films about a broad variety of maritime topics. Visitors can also have fun interacting with live feeds streaming from exploration vessels throughout the world, and view a short film about how maritime exploration has affected the history of mankind.
There are many interactive activities, from games to videos, throughout the several exhibit galleries designed to engage children's imaginations while also offering educational opportunities. Kids will learn things such as how a steam engine works, what it's like to be inside a life raft, or how much a cannonball truly weighs.
100 Museum Drive, Newport News, Virginia, Phone: 757-596-2222
