Our visit to The Mariners' Museum was on a Tuesday morning in April. This meant that there were very few people there. We loved that because we don't like crowded places and we could casually browse all of the exhibits.
The main attraction at the museum is the USS Monitor (see links below for detailed information and history). The museum is currently conserving artifacts from the ship wreckage. Link to Featured Artifacts.
There are exhibits featuring war ship making and the story of the Navy. Defending the Seas - The Mariners' Museum and Park (marinersmuseum.org)
Many photos are on display and there is lots to read. Depending on one's interest level a great deal of time could be spent exploring the exhibit.
The replica of war ship crew quarters was neat.
Old war history is interesting, but we really wanted to see the America's Cup racing yacht. Speed and Innovation - The Mariners' Museum and Park (marinersmuseum.org)
The size of that vessel was astonishing.
The exhibit included videos of different aspects of the design. Very interesting exhibit.
The other main attraction for us is the International Small Craft Center. This is where antique wooden boats are on display. International Small Craft Center - The Mariners' Museum and Park (marinersmuseum.org)
Whiskey learned about the museum because of his interest of Chris-Craft boats, and because we have one. Click here.
From the website: "The archives of Chris-Craft Industries were acquired by the Museum in 1986. Comprising more than 350 linear feet of records, this collection is considered one of the most complete histories of a boatbuilding company. The collection covers all models produced by Chris-Craft from 1922 through 1980."
Here is a gallery of shots from that exhibit.
In the main museum are exhibits of boat models. The art of ship model making is fascinating. The attention to detail is amazing.
So, as you can see, if you've made this far down this post, there is a lot to explore at The Mariners' Museum. A visit could take all day. Walk the trails, explore the museum, and have a lunch break. There is a cafe, but it does not appear to offer much. I suggest bringing a picnic lunch and folding chairs and have lunch in the grass as we did.
Watch a video of our tour.
We did the Museum trail walk in April 2021 when the museum was closed due to Covid. Here is clip from the trail before Homer had wheels. It's nice to see Homer walking without wheels.
Newport News Virginia is a notable destination because there is an abundance of places to explore. And it is close to Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Colonial Williamsburg (which we also visited on this same trip). A week vacation in this area would keep you busy going to a new destination every day.
Thanks for reading!
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