By Dana DiSante
This coastal town on the Virginia Peninsula, nestled in Hampton Roads and overlooking the James River, offers a variety of museums and historic sites for a fun and educational getaway.
Newport News has a historically significant past, and it’s filled with institutions dedicated to documenting the town and Virginia’s colonial history, maritime culture, natural environment and more. Here are some can’t-miss destinations for a fun and educational trip for the entire family or even just two.
Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.; 757-595-1900
In November 1965, the Peninsula Junior Nature Museum opened as an educational institution for the children and families of Newport News. Known now as the Virginia Living Museum, the organization’s goal has been to discover and preserve wildlife and essential natural environments. The museum emerged as an attraction during the population’s elevated interest scientific discovery during the space race, but for the past 50 years, it has continued to grow its conservational exhibits.
The Mariners’ Museum and Park
100 Museum Drive; 757-596-2222
The Mariners’ Museum and Park is a combination nature park and museum that offers a unique historic account of coastal exploration, and it makes up the largest comprehensive maritime exhibits in the western hemisphere. On-site, Lake Maury and the Noland Trail provide scenic views of the James River, and within the museum, the exhibits connect the explorers who discovered new lands by crossing water passageways with the discoveries unearthed by deep-sea divers and oceanographers. The museum’s artifacts reveal the relationship between maritime history and developing civilizations, specifically the shipbuilding industry in Newport News.
Endview Plantation
362 Yorktown Road; 757-887-1862
The Endview Plantation has served as a historical juncture for Native Americans, Jamestown settlers and even as a hospital for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. The Harwood family cultivated the land, which was expanded and passed down through generations until reaching a landmass the size of present-day Warwick County. The plantation is layered with archeological artifacts dating back to the development of Newport News.
Peninsula Fine Arts Center
101 Museum Drive; 757-596-8175
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center is an accredited center, a recognition only given to only 20 non-collecting art centers. Working to share artistic creations with visitors, the center continues to propel the arts scene and community in Newport News.
