The Mariners' Museum and Park

The Mariners' Museum and Park Admission is only $1 every day! The Museum also includes the USS Monitor Center, home to the Civil War ironclad’s iconic gun turret.
(1752)

Located in the heart of Newport News, VA, The Mariners' Museum and Park connects people to the world's waters, because through the water – through our shared maritime heritage – we are connected to one another. The Mariners’ Museum, located in Newport News, VA is one of the largest and most prestigious maritime museums in the world and has been designated by Congress as America’s National Maritime

Museum. The collection of over 35,000 artifacts include miniature ship models, scrimshaw, maritime paintings, decorative arts, carved figureheads, working steam engines and much more. The Museum is situated on within a 550-acre park that is one of the nation’s largest privately-owned and maintained park that is free and open to the public. The park includes the 160-acre lake Maury, the 5-mile Noland Trail and the iconic Lion’s Bridge that overlooks the tranquil James River. The USS Monitor Center features many artifacts from the famous ironclad are on exhibit and the incredible story of her creation, battle, sinking and recovery are told in vivid detail. The Mariners’ Museum Library houses the largest maritime collection in the western hemisphere, with 78,000 volumes, one million manuscript items, 600,000 photographs, and several thousand maps, charts, and ships’ plans. Its collection is international in scope and spans six centuries with several titles dating back to the 1500s. Used extensively by international scholars and researchers, as well as interested individuals, it is one of the most comprehensive maritime research collections in the world.

🛥️☀️We heard boating season is coming up? But here at The Mariners' Museum and Park, boating season is every season. ☀️🛥...
05/27/2026

🛥️☀️We heard boating season is coming up? But here at The Mariners' Museum and Park, boating season is every season. ☀️🛥️
We invite you to visit The Mariners' to discover which boat you'd like to take for a spin — and to find your own connection to the world’s waters through history and nature. 🌊🛥️☀️

Today marks our final post of the Conservation Curious series. We appreciate you all taking this journey with us to lear...
05/26/2026

Today marks our final post of the Conservation Curious series. We appreciate you all taking this journey with us to learn about what it means to care for a place like The Mariners’ Museum and Park. To wrap up this series, we will answer the question, “Why conserve?”

Conservation ensures the long term preservation of our living and museum collections. The Museum houses over 3,200 objects, approximately 110,000 volumes of books, journals, and microform in our Library, and around 9,000 linear feet of archival material; the Park has 550-acres of land, 5-miles of walking trails, and a 167-acre freshwater lake. Taking care of these areas allows not just our generation to learn and enjoy these artifacts and outdoor spaces, but gives future generations the opportunity as well.

🚧Partial road closure notice🚧On Sunday, May 31st, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Museum Drive will be partially closed due ...
05/26/2026

🚧Partial road closure notice🚧
On Sunday, May 31st, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Museum Drive will be partially closed due to a race. 👟 The closure starts at Lions Bridge and ends at the gate near back of the Museum, as indicated in the second photo. The Museum and Park will remain open during this time.

This poignant photograph, captured over 80 years ago, serves as a powerful reminder of the solemnity and sacrifice that ...
05/25/2026

This poignant photograph, captured over 80 years ago, serves as a powerful reminder of the solemnity and sacrifice that define Memorial Day.

On May 30, 1944, just one week before the D-Day landings in Normandy, Staff Sergeant James M. Piercey, Station Compliment Battalion, stood at attention with basic trainees of the 2nd Platoon during Memorial Day services at CPH, Pennsylvania.

Today, we join those who have come before us in honoring all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

United States Army Signal Corps Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation Photographs, Indexes, and Other Material, P0003. Item #: P0003/01- # E-8072. Sponsored by a Hidden Collections grant from the Council on Library and Information Resource (CLIR), Grant Number CON-539.

🛠️ LECTURE REMINDER: A Modelmaker’s JourneyTHIS Friday, May 29!Don't miss your chance to see maritime history come alive...
05/24/2026

🛠️ LECTURE REMINDER: A Modelmaker’s Journey
THIS Friday, May 29!

Don't miss your chance to see maritime history come alive! Join us at 10:30 a.m. to meet "Metalworking Craftsman of the Year" Rich Carlstedt and see his incredible 1/16th-scale working model of USS Monitor’s engine.

Members: Free
Guests: $1 👉 Register now: marinersmuseum.org/event/a-modelmakers-journey/

National Maritime Day, celebrated on May 22, was created to recognize the maritime industry in the United States. ⚓ The ...
05/22/2026

National Maritime Day, celebrated on May 22, was created to recognize the maritime industry in the United States. ⚓ The significance of the 22nd is that on this day in 1819, the first ever transoceanic voyage using steam power began when the American steamship Savannah set sail from its namesake city in Georgia. Here at The Mariners’, we have a ship model of SS Savannah (pictured here) on display within our USS Monitor Center. Be sure to check out this beautiful ship model on your next visit!

📸 Into the Archives: Sea and Sky 📸When you think of The Mariners’ Museum and Park, you probably think of ships and water...
05/21/2026

📸 Into the Archives: Sea and Sky 📸

When you think of The Mariners’ Museum and Park, you probably think of ships and water. But did you know that our archives are also packed with incredible photos of aircraft?

Sea and sky have always been deeply connected, and these images help us explore stories that highlight that profound connection.



1) Mable Cody and her Flying Circus, performing a daring feat transferring from speedboat Miss Tampa to an East Coast Airways plane. April, 1927.
John L. Hacker Design Collection, MS0310

2) In 1963, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules went through a series of tests on Forrestal.
The Mariners’ Photograph Collection, P0001

3) Designed by the Corsair division of the Chris-Craft Corporation, this 1971 Lancer model was offered in cherry red and white.
Chris Craft Collection, MS0005

4) In 1935, the Naval Airship Training Command was established at Moffett Field, and the site became the nation’s only Navy air base completely dedicated to Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) training and deployment. c.1944.
US Navy Photographs, P0005

5) The Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1934. Can you spot the Goodyear Blimp?
Edward Hungerford Photographs, MS0003

6) The dirigible Los Angeles is hovering over USN fleet oiler Patoka while receiving fuel off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, 1925.
The Mariners’ Photograph Collection, P0001

7) US Navy airplanes taking off from USS Saratoga CV-3, c.1929.
US Navy Photographs, P0005

8.) After colliding with Andrea Doria in heavy fog, Stockholm sailed to New York City under her own power, arriving on July 27, 1956.
The Mariners’ Photograph Collection, P0001

9) Deck view of a Grumman F9F Panther jet landing on the USCG Lake Champlain (CV-39). Written on back: “The yielding nylon arms of the barricade envelop the Panther’s wings, as men of the flight deck forward scatter in all directions,” c.1955.
The Mariners’ Photograph Collection, P0001

10) A Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter is coming in for landing on the deck of USS Leyte, CV-32 11/20/1948.
Ted Stone Collection, P0008

⚓️✨ Uncork history and celebrate heritage at Night at The Mariners’! ✨⚓️Join us Saturday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. as we ra...
05/20/2026

⚓️✨ Uncork history and celebrate heritage at Night at The Mariners’! ✨⚓️

Join us Saturday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. as we raise a glass to the maritime industry and put a special spotlight on the pride of our community — Newport News Shipbuilding.

🍷 For the Wine Lovers: We’re taking your palate on a global voyage, serving up classic standbys and unique varietals alike. With dozens of wines to sample, you’re sure to discover a few new favorites.

Grab your glass, stack up your plate with delicious small bites from renowned local caterers, and explore the rich history of Newport News Shipbuilding through guided interpretation stations and special artifact displays.

Cheers to local history in the making! 🥂

🎟️ Get your tickets today! marinersmuseum.org/event/night-at-the-mariners/

Give it up for week three of Conservation Curious! For today, we explain what Environment Conservation entails.Environme...
05/18/2026

Give it up for week three of Conservation Curious! For today, we explain what Environment Conservation entails.

Environmental Conservation is the practice of protecting the natural environment. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair damage and reverse trends.

The Environmental Conservationists here at Mariners Park take great pride in caring for our Living Collection within the park. Several conservation efforts include continuous research, forest management, water quality testing, and wildlife habitat restoration. Through these efforts we can preserve this valued resource for the future generations to continue to be inspired by the flora and fauna that live in Mariners Park.

To learn more about Environmental Conservation at The Mariners’, visit our website: https://www.marinersmuseum.org/conservation/environmental/

05/15/2026

When engineering, dedication, and craftsmanship meet maritime history, the past can be illuminated like never before. By building the world’s most accurate working miniature of Monitor’s propulsion system, Rich Carlstedt has created a tool that sheds light on the famous ironclad’s story.

Watch the full video to get a glimpse into his journey: bit.ly/4dFvRSA

PLUS, don’t miss the chance to see the stunning model up close when Rich visits The Mariners’ for a special presentation on May 29!

Register today: marinersmuseum.org/event/a-modelmakers-journey

Address

100 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA
23606

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17575962222

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Mariners' Museum and Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to The Mariners' Museum and Park:

Shortcuts

Share

Category