Virginia Living Museum

Virginia Living Museum Connecting you to nature by visiting more than 250 living species native to VA. Celebrating 60 Years of Wild Wonder! 1966-2026
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Don't let the word "museum" fool you. Much of what you see at the Virginia Living Museum is very alive and interactive. There is no better place to experience Virginia's rich natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Located just 20 minutes from Williamsburg, the VLM is part zoo, nature park, aquarium, botanical garden, planetarium and science center. Visitors can view 700 plant and animal s

pecies including the red wolf, bobcat, otter and bald eagle. Discover native Virginia animals in naturalized habitats including a limestone cave, mountain cove and cypress swamp. Explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay with a loggerhead sea turtle and touch a horseshoe crab. Enter an aviary of coastal birds, See spectacular views of the sun from the observatory and voyage across the galaxies in the state-of-the-art planetarium theater Learn how to build, live and garden "green." Young kids particularly enjoy the Nature Playground and the "Wild & Well" exhibit where kids can role play to be a vet and zoo keeper. Explore our new permanent outdoor Dinosaur Discovery Trail with 16 life-like dinosaurs, paleo camp and dig pit. Explore Virginia's natural world while creating lifetime memories with your family!

Thank you to the National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) for joining us at the Virginia Living Museum for an e...
05/31/2026

Thank you to the National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) for joining us at the Virginia Living Museum for an evening celebrating sustainability, creativity, and nature-inspired design!

Guests took part in a floriculture workshop featuring native greenery incorporated into handcrafted wreaths and bird nests while learning sustainable approaches to event décor. The evening was filled with color, creativity, and connection as members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes horticulture tour, a stroll along the boardwalk, delicious food, beautiful violin music, and hands-on workshop fun.

Interested in hosting your own unforgettable after-hours experience at the Museum? From team events to private gatherings, we’d love to help bring your vision to life. Email [email protected] to learn more!

Today is our Claire Hubbard Day of Service!Thank you .arborists for donating your time and expertise to helping the safe...
05/30/2026

Today is our Claire Hubbard Day of Service!

Thank you .arborists for donating your time and expertise to helping the safety and tree health on our campus. As you visit today, please give a wave and a thank you to this team and feel free to watch them work!

Just a little dirt bath Chompers to brighten your day 🦎 Meet the tiger salamander, one of the largest land salamanders i...
05/28/2026

Just a little dirt bath Chompers to brighten your day 🦎

Meet the tiger salamander, one of the largest land salamanders in North America!

Fun facts about these secretive amphibians:

•Their yellow-and-black pattern inspired the name “tiger” salamander

• They spend most of their lives underground and are usually active at night

• Tiger salamanders are important predators that help control insects, worms, and other small creatures

• They begin life in water with feathery external gills before transforming into land-dwellers

• Unlike lizards, salamanders have smooth, moist skin and no scales

• They often use abandoned burrows made by small mammals to stay cool and hidden underground

Healthy amphibians like tiger salamanders are important indicators of healthy ecosystems because their sensitive skin easily reacts to pollution and environmental change!

05/27/2026

Happy World Otter Day! 🦦

While Nora may not be our newest North American river otter anymore, she has happily taken on the role of showing Roan the ropes, from exploring their habitat to meeting guests during our River Otter Behind-the-Scenes Tours.

North American river otters are built for life in and around the water, with webbed feet, powerful tails, waterproof fur, and even a special transparent eyelid that acts like built-in swim goggles. These playful animals are also important indicators of healthy waterways, meaning thriving otter populations can signal a healthy ecosystem.

Otters once disappeared from much of their historic range due to habitat loss, pollution, and over-trapping, but conservation and reintroduction efforts have helped populations recover in many areas. Organizations like the International Otter Survival Fund, the River Otter Ecology Project, and the Chesapeake Bay Otter Alliance continue to help protect otters and the waterways they depend on through research, education, habitat conservation, and community science.

Did you know?
🦦 Otters can hold their breath for up to 8 minutes underwater
🦦 A group of otters is called a romp
🦦 Their thick fur traps air to help keep them warm while swimming

You can help otters too by supporting clean waterways, reducing pollution, and protecting healthy habitats for wildlife.
Thank you for supporting wildlife conservation and helping us inspire the next generation of otter lovers.

Come visit us today to do some otter crafts, photo ops, otter enrichment at 11AM, otter feeding at 12:30PM, and another otter feeding at 3:30PM!

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifices he...
05/25/2026

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifices helped protect the people, places, and freedoms we hold dear.

As we spend time outdoors with family, explore nature, and enjoy our communities this Memorial Day, we pause to reflect with gratitude for those who made those moments possible.

From all of us at the Virginia Living Museum, thank you to the service members and families whose courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

The Virginia Living Museum is open today, and we welcome guests to spend the day exploring Virginia’s wildlife and natural world with us.

Tuesday, the Virginia Living Museum proudly celebrated the ribbon cutting of our newest interactive installation in the ...
05/22/2026

Tuesday, the Virginia Living Museum proudly celebrated the ribbon cutting of our newest interactive installation in the Conservation Command Center in partnership with Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD).

This innovative exhibit invites visitors to explore the journey of water in Hampton Roads from flush, to flow, to flourish while highlighting the importance of environmental stewardship, infrastructure, and public education through engaging, hands-on experiences.

We are incredibly grateful to the HRSD team for their collaboration, expertise, and shared commitment to science education and environmental stewardship. Thank you to HRSD Commissioner Vishnu Lakdawala, CEO Jay Bernas, Deputy General Manager and CFO Steve de Mik, Chief Engineer Jeff Scarano, Chief People Officer Christina Gibson, Chief Information Officer Mary Corby, Chief Communications Officer Leila Rice, Community Education and Outreach Specialist Brantley Bissette, and Director of Interceptor Operations, North Shore and Virginia Living Museum Board Member Chris Stephan for joining us in celebrating this exciting milestone.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to, CEO Bob McKenna, and Newport News Deputy City Manager for Community Development Eoghan Miller for their continued support of community partnerships, education, and innovation in Hampton Roads.

One of the most memorable moments of the day came when June, granddaughter of Steve de Mik, helped unveil the exhibit and became the very first visitor to push the buttons and experience the installation firsthand.

The official ribbon cutting was led by Virginia Living Museum Executive Director and CEO Rebecca Kleinhample, Board President Sarah Messersmith, and HRSD CEO Jay Bernas, symbolizing the strong partnership and shared vision behind this exciting new addition to the Museum experience.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this vision to life and to our Education and Exhibits teams for their creativity and dedication in making science accessible, inspiring, and locally relevant for the more than 250,000 guests we serve each year.

Did You Know? Virginia’s forest canopy creates entire hidden worlds beneath the trees.In dense forests, the thick canopy...
05/21/2026

Did You Know? Virginia’s forest canopy creates entire hidden worlds beneath the trees.

In dense forests, the thick canopy filters sunlight, traps moisture, and helps regulate temperature year-round, creating cool, shaded environments where mosses, fungi, ferns, wildflowers, salamanders, insects, and even young trees can thrive. Every layer of the forest depends on the health of the canopy above it.

Healthy trees don’t just shape ecosystems, they shape our communities too.

That’s why we’re proud to partner with Truetimber Arborists, a team committed to protecting and preserving the relationships between people and the natural world through professional tree care, stewardship, and education.

🌳 On May 30, join us for a special Claire Hubbard Day of Service in partnership with Truetimber Arborists as their team helps care for and enhance areas across our campus.

Guests can watch arborists at work, learn about tree care and conservation, and explore what it’s like to work outdoors caring for Virginia’s forests and trees.

If your child loves nature, heavy equipment, trees, or seeing how things work behind the scenes, this is a perfect day to visit and learn while celebrating a legacy of service and stewardship.

Address

524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
Newport News, VA
23601

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

(757) 595-1900

Website

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