The museums, galleries and historic houses of Olde Towne are fun with plenty of education mixed in. It’s like a field trip for the entire family.
Andalo's Clubhouse
presented by the Children's Museum of Virginia
While the Children’s Museum of Virginia is closed for renovations, the fun, excitement, and imagination continues at Andalo’s Clubhouse. Andalo, the museum mascot, presents hands-on exhibits, room for birthday parties, family fun days, and educational programs – just like the Children’s Museum of Virginia always has!
420 High Street
(757) 393-5258
www.childrensmuseumva.com
Courthouse Galleries
The Greek-Revival building is an imposing one, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and nearly hidden behind the massive oak trees that shade its courtyard. Built in 1846, it served as the Norfolk County Courthouse until 1960. Now it is home to the Courthouse Galleries, an art museum with two spacious galleries of ever-changing exhibits; however, the Courthouse Galleries is more than just an art museum. It’s a relaxing gathering place where you can learn the art of growing Bonsai trees one week and see a demonstration of glass blowing the next. Every First Friday, the Courthouse Galleries typically offers free musical entertainment. On the First Sunday of the month, educational programs – such as gallery talks and seminars that complement the exhibits – are open to the public, also free of charge. Art classes, lectures, poetry readings and book signings round out the vast array of offerings at the museum.
On the corner of High and Court
(757) 393-8543
www.courthousegalleries.com
Lightship Portsmouth Museum
Lightships were built to help mariners avoid dangerous shoals or enter safely into harbors at night. Years ago, lights were fixed to masts of ships that anchored for months in strategic locations off the coastline. One such ship can be visited at the foot of London Street on the Portsmouth waterfront. The Lightship Portsmouth was commissioned in 1915 and has since been restored to its original condition. In 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can board the vessel and see how the men of the Lightship Service lived during their many months at sea.
At the foot of London Street on the waterfront in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.
(757) 393-8741
www.portsnavalmuseums.com
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
If you're interested in local or naval history, or memorabilia from a centuries-old Southern port, you’ll find the Naval Shipyard Museum a delight. Established in 1949 within the nation's oldest shipyard, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Museum was later moved to the Portsmouth waterfront at High Street Landing on the Elizabeth River.
2 High St.
(757) 393-8591
www.portsnavalmuseums.com
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
With two stories of hands-on sports and health exhibits, this attraction celebrates nearly 300 past and present athletes and inspires future ones. Drive a NASCAR simulator, test the speed of your baseball pitch, and take your turn at the microphone as a broadcaster. Kids and adults alike will learn about fitness, nutrition and sports medicine in the Training Room, complete with virtual exercise equipment and a skeleton that rides a bike! A great place for the whole family. Group rates available. The Hall of Fame is also a unique venue for your next reunion, business meeting, or formal reception. Call today to schedule a tour.
206 High St.
(757) 393-8031
www.vshfm.com
Hill House
Four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. Listed on the Virginia Register of Historic Places. Open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April through December only.
221 North St.
(757) 393-0241
Fresnel Lens
Having begun service in 1896 as part of the Hog Island Light off the Great Machipongo Inlet on the Eastern Shore, today this first order Fresnel lens is valued between $750,000 and $1 million. It stands about 10 feet high, weighs 2,500 pounds and is among the largest and brightest of its kind, with more than 250 prisms of optical glass. Housed in a 16-foot-wide pavilion, this lens is the only one displayed outside of a museum setting.
Near the Portsmouth Seawall, south of High Street Landing
Andalo's Clubhouse
presented by the Children's Museum of Virginia
While the Children’s Museum of Virginia is closed for renovations, the fun, excitement, and imagination continues at Andalo’s Clubhouse. Andalo, the museum mascot, presents hands-on exhibits, room for birthday parties, family fun days, and educational programs – just like the Children’s Museum of Virginia always has!
420 High Street
(757) 393-5258
www.childrensmuseumva.com
Courthouse Galleries
The Greek-Revival building is an imposing one, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and nearly hidden behind the massive oak trees that shade its courtyard. Built in 1846, it served as the Norfolk County Courthouse until 1960. Now it is home to the Courthouse Galleries, an art museum with two spacious galleries of ever-changing exhibits; however, the Courthouse Galleries is more than just an art museum. It’s a relaxing gathering place where you can learn the art of growing Bonsai trees one week and see a demonstration of glass blowing the next. Every First Friday, the Courthouse Galleries typically offers free musical entertainment. On the First Sunday of the month, educational programs – such as gallery talks and seminars that complement the exhibits – are open to the public, also free of charge. Art classes, lectures, poetry readings and book signings round out the vast array of offerings at the museum.
On the corner of High and Court
(757) 393-8543
www.courthousegalleries.com
Lightship Portsmouth Museum
Lightships were built to help mariners avoid dangerous shoals or enter safely into harbors at night. Years ago, lights were fixed to masts of ships that anchored for months in strategic locations off the coastline. One such ship can be visited at the foot of London Street on the Portsmouth waterfront. The Lightship Portsmouth was commissioned in 1915 and has since been restored to its original condition. In 1989, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can board the vessel and see how the men of the Lightship Service lived during their many months at sea.
At the foot of London Street on the waterfront in Historic Olde Towne Portsmouth.
(757) 393-8741
www.portsnavalmuseums.com
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
If you're interested in local or naval history, or memorabilia from a centuries-old Southern port, you’ll find the Naval Shipyard Museum a delight. Established in 1949 within the nation's oldest shipyard, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Museum was later moved to the Portsmouth waterfront at High Street Landing on the Elizabeth River.
2 High St.
(757) 393-8591
www.portsnavalmuseums.com
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
With two stories of hands-on sports and health exhibits, this attraction celebrates nearly 300 past and present athletes and inspires future ones. Drive a NASCAR simulator, test the speed of your baseball pitch, and take your turn at the microphone as a broadcaster. Kids and adults alike will learn about fitness, nutrition and sports medicine in the Training Room, complete with virtual exercise equipment and a skeleton that rides a bike! A great place for the whole family. Group rates available. The Hall of Fame is also a unique venue for your next reunion, business meeting, or formal reception. Call today to schedule a tour.
206 High St.
(757) 393-8031
www.vshfm.com
Hill House
Four-story 1825 English basement home furnished entirely with original family belongings. Listed on the Virginia Register of Historic Places. Open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April through December only.
221 North St.
(757) 393-0241
Fresnel Lens
Having begun service in 1896 as part of the Hog Island Light off the Great Machipongo Inlet on the Eastern Shore, today this first order Fresnel lens is valued between $750,000 and $1 million. It stands about 10 feet high, weighs 2,500 pounds and is among the largest and brightest of its kind, with more than 250 prisms of optical glass. Housed in a 16-foot-wide pavilion, this lens is the only one displayed outside of a museum setting.
Near the Portsmouth Seawall, south of High Street Landing