Updated: 5/25/2011 
Virginia Living Museum
Newport News, Virginia
Description

View endangered red wolves. Get up close to a loggerhead turtle and moon jellies. See fish with no eyes and frogs that change colors. Touch live spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. It’s all at the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, where living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea

Experience a steamy cypress swamp and cool mountain cove. Explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay and the underground realm of a limestone cave. See flying squirrels, stingrays and other creatures of the night. Touch famous Bay creatures. Kids will especially enjoy the Touch Tank with its sea stars and horseshoe crabs. Enjoy hands-on activities.

See spectacular views of the sun from the observatory and travel the universe in the state-of-the-art digital planetarium. Outdoors, stroll the boardwalk to view coastal birds, beavers, otters, coyotes, endangered red wolves and other animals in naturalized habitats. Butterfly Garden, Virginia Garden and landscape plantings display one of the most extensive displays of native plants in Virginia. Learn how to live, build and garden green in the Conservation Garden and Green Living House.

Mission

Connecting people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation.

History

The Junior Nature Museum and Planetarium opened in 1966 through the efforts of the Warwick Rotary Club and the Junior League of Hampton Roads. In 1987 the museum transformed itself into the first living museum east of the Mississippi, becoming the Virginia Living Museum. In 2004, the museum completed a major expansion with a new exhibition building and outdoor exhibit areas.

Artifact Collections

The museum exhibits more than 250 live Virginia animal and plant species, including six that are endangered or threatened. Its hands-on discovery centers display dozens of museum artifacts and specimens.

Programs

The museum offers on-site classroom and laboratory programs and off-site field experiences for grades K-12. All classes are taught by professional educators and are correlated to Virginia and national science standards. Customized teacher training workshops and classes are also available.

Facilities
Performance Areas
Governance

The museum is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by a Board of Trustees.

Services
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Restaurant
Group Tours
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

April 5 - 8, 2025

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

April 6 - 8, 2025

Nebraska Museum Association 2025 Conference

Hosted by the Knight Museum in Alliance, Nebraska

United States

April 6 - 9, 2025

Texas Association of Museums 2025 Conference Austin

AT&T Conference Center

Austin, Texas

April 27 - 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

RECENT UPDATES

Museums

03/27 A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery

Fort Pierce, Florida

Museum Associations

04/01 Florida Association of Museums

Tallahassee, Florida