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.
(1753)

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.

If you’ve been to The Mariners’ lately, you may have noticed some extra activity in our Accessible Storage areas. For th...
06/17/2026

If you’ve been to The Mariners’ lately, you may have noticed some extra activity in our Accessible Storage areas. For the past few months, our Conservation and Digital Services Teams have been working hard to protect and photograph these artifacts!

First, our Digitization Technician photographs an object or artifact in Accessible Storage so there’s a digital record of the item. This helps indicate how the object looked at that particular moment, which is important in case it changes in the future due to environmental causes.

Then, to reduce the chances of the environment negatively affecting the object or artifact, our Conservation Team steps in. Our Conservation Administrator and Objects Conservator make covers for chairs in Accessible Storage, which are meant to protect various fabric types from light and dust. You may not realize it, but extended light exposure can cause these older fabrics to degrade and fade over time!

Swipe through these photos to see our team at work!

🪑 Chicago, IL, ca 1885.

Happy Arborist Appreciation Day! 🌲 Today, we want to give a massive shoutout to one of the incredible hands keeping our ...
06/16/2026

Happy Arborist Appreciation Day! 🌲

Today, we want to give a massive shoutout to one of the incredible hands keeping our grounds safe, healthy, and beautiful: The Mariners' own Arborist, Danny Bandula! 💚

If you’ve ever walked under the stunning canopy of trees in Mariners’ Park, you’ve experienced Danny’s hard work firsthand. His dedication to managing tree health and trail safety keeps the Park thriving for both guests and the wildlife that call Mariners’ Park home.

Next time you're out exploring Noland Trail and see Danny high up in the branches or caring for our trees on the ground, be sure to wave and say a big "thank you!" 👋

Coming together to celebrate our waters 🌊Preserving our maritime heritage is a shared effort that connects our community...
06/15/2026

Coming together to celebrate our waters 🌊

Preserving our maritime heritage is a shared effort that connects our community through a commitment to understanding and protecting our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.

That’s why we were honored to receive the Maritime Heritage Distinguished Service Award at the 2026 Ocean Awards.

Presented by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation during Capitol Hill Ocean Week, the Ocean Awards recognize individuals and organizations dedicated to improving the health of our waters.

This recognition highlights our commitment to conserving USS Monitor’s artifacts, decades of collaborative work with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and ongoing interpretation of Monitor’s story.

We’re proud to continue stewarding Monitor’s artifacts so that its stories can be shared from generation to generation. ⚓

📷 National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

The Museum is set to open at 1 p.m. today, June 15. Thank you to our wonderful team for working hard during the power ou...
06/15/2026

The Museum is set to open at 1 p.m. today, June 15. Thank you to our wonderful team for working hard during the power outage, and thank you to our community for being patient during the outage! We hope everyone stays safe today. 💙

UPDATE: The Mariners' is set to open at 1 p.m. today, June 15 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C9dehFL77/ The Museum is...
06/15/2026

UPDATE: The Mariners' is set to open at 1 p.m. today, June 15 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C9dehFL77/

The Museum is experiencing an unexpected power outage due to last night's storm. The Museum will be closed until power is restored. Please check MarinersMuseum.org or social media for updates.

It’s National Get Outdoors Day! 🍃 Mariners' Park offers so many incredible ways to explore the great outdoors. Whether y...
06/14/2026

It’s National Get Outdoors Day! 🍃

Mariners' Park offers so many incredible ways to explore the great outdoors. Whether you're hiking the Noland Trail, spotting local wildlife, taking in the stunning water views, or relaxing in the Mariners' Forest, there is something for everyone.

Today is a great day to hop offline and touch base with nature ☀️ We hope to see you in the Park!

Paddle into the summer with a spin on Mariners' Lake! ☀️ Rowboat, single kayak, and tandem kayak rentals are all availab...
06/12/2026

Paddle into the summer with a spin on Mariners' Lake! ☀️ Rowboat, single kayak, and tandem kayak rentals are all available. Looking to fish? Catch-and-release fishing is also permitted right from your rental kayak or boat!

🗓️ Saturdays & Sundays* | 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

🌐 Plan your visit: marinersmuseum.org/park/mariners-lake/

🌊 June 6-14 is Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week 🌊In the 1960s, the Chesapeake Bay oyster industry hit a breaking point. A m...
06/08/2026

🌊 June 6-14 is Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week 🌊

In the 1960s, the Chesapeake Bay oyster industry hit a breaking point. A massive epidemic caused by two deadly diseases, Dermo and MSX, had wiped out nearly 95% of adult oysters in high-salinity waters. Staff from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission sprung into action, advancing a shell planting program that had begun in 1929.

These recently digitized photos from the John Frye Collection capture his time riding along the Chesapeake Bay with the teams as they fought to restore the Bay’s oyster population.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant ST-255010-OMS-23.
📷John Frye Collection, MS0199

🍴 Calling all foodies! 🍴Get ready for an evening of gourmet indulgence! At Night at The Mariners', our favorite Hampton ...
06/05/2026

🍴 Calling all foodies! 🍴

Get ready for an evening of gourmet indulgence! At Night at The Mariners', our favorite Hampton Roads caterers are bringing their best dishes - and you get to sample them all!

Indulge in a curated menu of delicious culinary creations, choose from dozens of international wines, and join us in celebrating the 140th anniversary of a local legend: Newport News Shipbuiding

🎟️ Tag your favorite foodie and grab your tickets before they're gone! marinersmuseum.org/event/night-at-the-mariners/

Sun on your face, the smell of the water, and the thrill of being the captain of your own little world 🛥️✨There’s nothin...
06/04/2026

Sun on your face, the smell of the water, and the thrill of being the captain of your own little world 🛥️✨

There’s nothing quite like childhood memories made on a boat. Maybe you cast your first line or learned to steer on the family boat — whatever filled your days, those moments stay with us forever, instilling a deep love for the water that can’t be shaken.

Want to share stories about your early adventures on the water? Visit our community archives, Mariners’ Log, to learn how your memories could become an inspiration to mariners around the world. 🌊

marinersmuseum.org/mariners-log/

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

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