Williamsburg
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum: Stemming from Mrs. Rockefeller’s private collection, this museum features one of the country’s premier collections of folk art from its permanent holdings and museum loan shows. 1-800-HISTORY, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.
Bassett Hall: This former home of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby is a two-story, 18th-century frame house located on 585 acres of gardens and rolling woodlands. 1-800-HISTORY, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.
Colonial Williamsburg Historical Area: A 301-acre historical area set in the 18th century, complete with hundreds of reconstructed and historically furnished buildings, costumed interpreters and living history displays. 1-800-HISTORY, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum: Home to an extensive collection of American and British antiques. 1-800-HISTORY, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.
Muscarelle Museum of Art: A collection of nearly 4,000 works of art from the museum’s permanent collection and changing exhibitions. William and Mary campus. (757) 221-2700, www.wm.edu/muscarelle.
Jamestown
Historic Jamestowne: The site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607, and home to the world-renowned Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological project. New in 2007, the innovative Archaearium (pronounced ar-KEE-air-ee-um) showcases artifacts from the ongoing excavations, allows visitors to stand over whole sections of Jamestowne’s last Statehouse and features virtual viewers that superimpose the 1607 James Fort over the actual archaeological site. (757) 229-1733, www.historicjamestowne.org.
Jamestown Settlement: A museum of 17th-century Virginia tells the story of the 1607 founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement, through film, gallery exhibits, and outdoor living history. Costumed historical interpreters demonstrate daily activities of the period in re-creations of a Powhatan Indian village, three English ships, a colonial fort, and at a riverfront discovery area. (888) 593-4682, www.historyisfun.org.
Yorktown
Yorktown Battlefield: Tour the fields upon which American independence was won. Ranger-led and self-guided tours highlight the fortifications, cannon and historic buildings of the battlefield, as well as the 18th-century port town. (757) 898-2410, www.nps.gov/colo.
Yorktown Victory Center: A museum of the American Revolution, Yorktown Victory Center features a timeline, film, gallery exhibits and outdoor living history re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and a 1780s farm. (888) 593-4682, www.historyisfun.org.
Watermen’s Museum: A museum devoted to the heritage, culture and contributions of the watermen of the Chesapeake Bay. (757) 887-2641, www.watermens.org.
Newport News
Endview Plantation: Built in 1769, Endview has witnessed the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War, and played roles in all three. (757) 887-1862, www.endview.org.
James A. Fields House: Significant for its long association with the development of the African-American community in Newport News, this house has been used as a law office, private residence and hospital. (757) 245-1991, www.newport-news.org/attractions/fields.htm.
Lee Hall Mansion: Built in 1859, Lee Hall is an antebellum mansion that served as a Confederate headquarters during the Peninsula Campaign. (757) 888-3371, www.leehall.org.
Mariners’ Museum: One of the largest international maritime museums, filled with prized artifacts that celebrate the spirit of seafaring adventure. Explore more than 60,000 square feet of gallery space featuring artifacts from the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, rare figureheads, handcrafted ship models, paintings, small craft from around the world, and much more. (800) 581-7245, www.marinersmuseum.org.
Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center: A restored 1899 Victorian, significant for its long association with the development of the African-American community in Newport News. This former residence of attorney Joseph Thomas Newsome has been used as a law office, hospital and hub of the local black community. (757) 247-2360, www.newsomehouse.org.
Peninsula Fine Arts Center: A collection of perse artworks and dynamic exhibitions that change every few months. The museum features a kids gallery, Gallery Shop, special programs and events. (757) 596-8175, www.pfac-va.org.
U.S. Army Transportation Museum: Located on 6 acres just inside the entrance to the active military base of Fort Eustis, this museum is devoted entirely to the history of U.S. Army transportation from colonial days to the present. It features nearly 100 full-size vehicles, air craft, amphibious vessels and more. (757) 878-1115, www.transchool.eustis.army.mil/museum/museum.html.
Virginia Living Museum: Living exhibits allow visitors to explore Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Highlights include hands-on activities, observatory, and boardwalk with animals in naturalized habitats. (757) 595-1900, www.thevlm.org.
Virginia War Museum: Tracing the development of the U.S. military from 1775 to the present, this museum features collections of artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms and more. Highlights include a section of the Berlin Wall, extensive collection of propaganda posters, special galleries and entertaining exhibits. (757) 247-8523, www.warmuseum.org.
Hampton
Casemate Museum: Home to the Army’s Coast Artillery collection, the Casemate Museum is a focal point of historic Fort Monroe, which is the largest stone fort in America as well as the only one surrounded by a moat. (757) 788-3391, www-tradoc.army.mil/museum/.
Hampton History Museum: Nine permanent galleries arranged in chronological order show 400 years of Hampton history and development. Artifacts are drawn from the city’s extensive collection and focus on its emergence as a center of air and space research, as well as its connection to American history. (757) 727-1610, www.hampton.gov/history_museum.
Hampton University Museum: Founded in 1868, this is the oldest African-American museum in the United States. Its collections feature more than 9,000 objects, including: African American fine arts; traditional African, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island, and Asian art; and objects relating to the history of Hampton University. (757) 727-5308, http://museum.hamptonu.edu/.
Virginia Air & Space Center: Devoted to America’s contributions to air and space, this museum features dozens of hands-on air and space exhibits, a premier interactive aviation gallery with more than 30 historic aircraft, the Apollo 12 Command Module, a Mars meteorite, flight simulators and 3-D IMAX theater. (757) 727-0900, www.vasc.org.
James River Plantations
Belle Air Plantation: Built circa 1670, this important architectural monument is known for its original massive heartpine timbers as well as what is considered to be America’s finest Jacobean stairway. Group tours by appointment. (804) 829-2431, www.jamesriverplantations.com.
Berkeley Plantation: Site of the first official Thanksgiving in America and birthplace of William Henry Harrison, America’s 9th president and son of Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. (888) 466-6018, www.berkeleyplantation.com.
Edgewood Plantation: Built in 1849, Edgewood was used to hold church services during the Civil War and was also used as a telephone exchange and post office. The house features a double spiral staircase and 10 fireplaces. Grounds and gardens open daily. House tours, teas, luncheons and candlelight tours by appointment. (804) 829-2962, www.edgewoodplantation.com.
Endview Plantation: Built in 1769, Endview has witnessed the Civil War, served as a Confederate headquarters and was occupied by Union troops. (757) 887-1862, www.endview.org.
Lee Hall Mansion: Built in 1859, Lee Hall is the only large antebellum plantation house remaining on the lower Virginia Peninsula. It served as a Confederate headquarters during the Peninsula Campaign. (757) 888-3371, www.leehall.org.
North Bend Plantation: Built in 1801, heirlooms at North Bend trace the family history to previous owners of Westover, Evelynton and Berkeley Plantations. The area was occupied by Union troops in 1864. Grounds and gardens open daily. House tours by appointment only. (804) 829-5176, www.northbendplantation.com.
Piney Grove at Southall’s Plantation: Established as a seat of the Southall family in the 1700s. Piney Grove features four historic homes, church, self-guided grounds tour, gardens and nature trail. Garden and grounds open daily. Progressive "Tours-by-the-Owners" and dinner events offered on many Saturdays. (804) 829-2196, www.pineygrove.com.
Sherwood Forest: Former home of President John Tyler and the longest frame dwelling in America. Grounds feature 25 acres of terraced gardens, woodlands and lawns. (804) 829-5377.
Shirley Plantation: An 800-acre working plantation operated by 10th and 11th generation descendents of the original owners, Shirley is Virginia’s first plantation and the oldest family-owned business in North America. (800) 232-1613, www.shirleyplantation.com.
Westover Plantation: Former home of William Byrd II, founder of Richmond, it is noteworthy for its beautiful proportions, architectural details, gardens and secret passages. Grounds and gardens open daily. House tours by appointment. (804) 829-2882, www.jamesriverplantations.com/page35.htm. |
