The Mariners' Museum and Park — Attraction in Newport News

When my son was 5 years old (a long time ago!), we watched a rather cheesy movie called "The Ironclads". Thus began an ongoing interest in the Monitor and the Merrimack or more properly, the Monitor and the Virginia.

i had no idea so many artifacts had been recovered from the Monitor which sank in 1862. It was mind-blowing to see these things - the actual red lantern lit when the ship was in distress; the original anchor and propeller, the clock, an officer's coat - so many other things as well. Of course the turret is the main interest, but it's under conservation and all you can see is the upper rim. The full scale models provide a good representation.

The Mariners' Museum is a fascinating place. Unbelievably the admission is only $1 - when i saw that, i thought it was a misprint. In addition to the exhibits, the Museum also does full restoration and conservation of nautical artifacts. The process is complex but enthralling.

The USS Monitor is the star attraction. The story of the ironclads continues to captivate people even now, and to see these things and to walk through full scale recreations of crew quarters and the turret is absolutely fabulous.

The museum has lots of other things too, like a very large room of beautifully crafted and detailed ship models. There's figureheads from various ships, even china sets. The Olympic sailing team gets a big thumbs-up with one of the sailboats suspended in the area - i had no idea they are so big. The modern navy has its tribute. You can sit in a ready room and pretend you're Tom Cruise/Maverick.

The husband went quietly berserk in the International Small Craft Centre. So many different kinds of craft, from the opulent to the whimsical to the what-were-they-thinking?? boats. He took about a thousand pictures in that area alone.

Also part of the Museum is their park, something we did not initially understand. We drove down to the Noland trail and explored a small fraction of one of the walking trails. It gets a lot of use from the locals as well.

i think we spent 4-5 hours at the Museum, and even then, we weren't sure we were ready to leave. We did stop at the requisite gift shop to buy a Monitor T-shirt for the guy who was that little 5-year-old who had fallen in love with the Monitor all...

Now here is America’s best kept secret!!! But why???

This place is amazing!!! Not the same place I remember when I was a little girl. Fort about objects behind glass to stand and look at then read a small card on a wall. Nope not here anymore.

This was full immersion into history from talking floors to walking into the captain’s quarters this place will blow your mind. I totally forgot that I was in Newport News Virginia and thought I was at the Smithsonian Institute. This museum has managed to bring a long time story of the famed Monitor Merrimack battle to life with a giant full replica of the Monitor. My pictures do not do it any justice.

As you know I am unable to get around on foot. Can you believe that unlike their water brothers in Virginia Beach (the Virginia Aquarium) they had free mobile wheelchairs!!!

Yes, yes, yes of course I had the food. Well worth the dime. The chef Billy Jones totally rocked the show with the Quesadilla. The food and atmosphere of the restaurant was EXCELLENT!!! The staff was very friendly and courteous

Bougie rating is 10!!! The customer service was above and beyond excellent. A random museum worker took time to show us an exhibit that featured an African American sailor. The agent at the counter smiled as she helped us. The gift made me feel like I was in Saxs Fifth Avenue with the selections of gifts and merchandise.

I had the opportunity to speak with the museum curator and he stated that he was aware that in the past the Museum had a more European slant, but they are reaching out to other organizations and seeking items as well as storylines to add to the museum to make a more global story.

So, at family reunions if you hear a story share that story with the museum they may be able to work with you on fleshing out that story and acquiring objects. Just make sure you have written facts to support it. Also, our HBCU’s played a major role in all wars how about sharing the info.

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Whether you are a tourist or a local trying to decide how to spend some free time, the Mariners' Museum and Park is a clean place to get away from the noise. There are a ton of ways to mix-and-match features of this space to make for a fun and informative day! A few highlights:

Admission to the air-conditioned Museum is just $1. Realistically speaking, even if museums (or this particular subject matter) are not the vibe of everyone in your party, it is a very reasonable amount of money to pay to occupy a decent amount of time if you're looking for something to help fill the day's itinerary. For those who ARE into this type of thing, though, you could easily spend hours looking through the exhibits. Not to mention the docents are INCREDIBLY knowledgeable and excited to share their wisdom with you. :) Complete with a clean bathroom, activities for kids, and a small gift shop!

New inside of the Museum as of Spring of 2025 is Column 15, a pleasant cafe offering a variety of coffees, teas, and pastries. There is indoor and outdoor seating available.

The VERY well-kept Noland Trail that is generally open from sunrise to sunset-ish hours. There is ample parking, as it is intended for visitors to both the Museum and the Noland Trail. The full Trail is an approximately 5.0-mile loop, but there are a few alternate access points along the way. I have walked and jogged the full distance alone at all hours of the day and have always felt safe! The only thing that spooked me was the occasional deer. :)

BE AWARE: I believe the Museum has a copper roof, so cell service inside the building and around the Noland Trail is quite spotty. Though it may be a bit inconvenient, couldn't we all use a break from our phones from...