What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Name: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Address: 2 High Street, Portsmouth, VA, 23704, US
Telephone: +17573938591
Price range: $

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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Ironclad displays. Giant wooden ship models. Military weaponry & artifacts. ALL ABOARD FOR MUSEUM HISTORY

Ironclad displays.

Portsmouth’s navy yard is the nation’s oldest, dating back to Colonial times. Our exhibits tell the story of the huge role it played in building the U.S. Navy, then bringing it into the nuclear age – and so much more! OUR MISSION

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum researches, preserves and promotes the history of the City of Portsmouth, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the armed forces in Hampton

Roads. The museum accomplishes its mission by offering exhibitions, publications, lectures and educational programs.

08/28/2026

Ever wonder how it's made? Meet local artists, craftspeople, engineers and creators who love sharing their knowledge and passion.

Watch live demonstrations, ask questions and discover everything from woodworking, pottery and glassblowing to coding, robotics and 3D printing. You might even find your next hobby.

Maker Fest is tomorrow, August 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Museum Mall outside the Children's Museum of Virginia. Free and open to all: https://brnw.ch/21x5hE2

08/26/2026

⚓ On This Day in History

On August 26, 1854, the USS Constellation was launched at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (then called Gosport Navy Yard) in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was the last sail-only warship built by the U.S. Navy and would go on to serve for more than a century in a variety of roles.

Built during a period of transition from sail to steam, Constellation represents an important chapter in the history of American shipbuilding and naval technology. Today, her legacy lives on as a reminder of Portsmouth’s longstanding connection to the U.S. Navy and maritime history.

08/22/2026

🎨 Artifact of the Day

Standing tall over the Norfolk Navy Yard, the Hammerhead Crane is one of the most recognizable landmarks along the Elizabeth River. This painting, The Great Crane at Norfolk Navy Yard, was created by artist John Landry around 1970 and captures the massive structure towering over the shipyard.

While the Hammerhead Crane is no longer in active use, it still stands at the shipyard today connecting the present-day Navy Yard with its long history of shipbuilding and innovation.

Next time you see the “Great Crane” along the Elizabeth River, take a moment to appreciate the landmark and the generations of shipyard workers who worked beneath it.

08/19/2026

⚓ SHIPBUILDING 101: WHAT IS A DRY DOCK?

Ever wondered how workers repair the part of a ship that's normally underwater?

This is the first installment of Shipbuilding 101, where we'll break down the tools, technology, and terminology behind the ship building that has been a vital part of Portsmouth’s History for nearly 300 years.

⚓ What shipbuilding term should we explain next?

All Images Courtesy of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Image 1: USS Delaware entering Dry Dock No. 1, Lithograph by J.G. Bruff, c. late-1800s
Image 2: Unknown ship in a dry dock at Norfolk Navy Yard, c. 1900s
Image 3: Dry Dock No. 2 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, c. 1801
Image 4: Torpedo boat in dry dock at Norfolk Navy Yard after a collision, c. 1905-1914
Image 5: Multiple ships getting worked on in Dry Dock No. 2 at Norfolk Navy Yard, c. 1905

08/15/2026

🎟️ Artifact of the Day

Before bridges and tunnels connected Hampton Roads, ferries were an essential part of daily life. This ticket, likely dating to the 1930s, was used on the Norfolk County and Portsmouth City Ferries, which carried hundreds of passengers across the Elizabeth River each day.

Whether commuters were heading to work at the Norfolk Navy Yard, families were visiting loved ones, or shoppers were traveling between communities, the ferry was a vital transportation link long before the Downtown or Midtown Tunnels existed.

Today, this small ticket offers a glimpse into a time when crossing the river meant stepping aboard a ferry instead of driving through a tunnel.

Have you ever ridden the Elizabeth River Ferry? Share your memories in the comments!

08/12/2026

🚢 Did You Know?

The Norfolk Navy Yard is older than the U.S. Navy!

Established in 1767 by the British Loyalist Andrew Sprowle as Gosport Shipyard, the shipyard predates the creation of the United States Navy by 31 years. When the U.S. Navy was established in 1798, the shipyard became one of its earliest and most important facilities.

Over the centuries, the shipyard has built, repaired, modernized, and maintained thousands of vessels from wooden sailing ships to today's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Through wars, technological advances, and more than 250 years of history, it has remained a vital part of America's maritime story.

⚓ Did you already know this piece of history? Let us know in the comments!

08/07/2026

Today we celebrate National Lighthouse Day and the navigational beacons that have guided mariners safely to shore for generations.

While many people think of towering lighthouses on rocky coastlines, lightships played an equally important role in protecting sailors. Stationed in locations where it was too difficult or dangerous to build a lighthouse, these floating aids to navigation carried powerful lights, fog signals, and distinctive markings to warn ships of hazards and guide them safely through busy waterways.

The Lightship Portsmouth faithfully served in this role for decades. Originally commissioned as LV-101 in 1916, the vessel served at several stations along the East Coast before retiring and finding a permanent home as a museum here in Portsmouth.

⚓ Visit the Lightship Portsmouth Museum on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and step aboard one of the nation's few surviving historic lightships!

08/04/2026

Today we celebrate Coast Guard Day and honor the men and women of the United States Coast Guard for more than two centuries of service protecting our nation's waterways and coastlines.

Established on August 4, 1790 as the Revenue Marine, the Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service in the United States. From safeguarding our ports and enforcing maritime law to conducting lifesaving search and rescue missions, the Coast Guard has played a vital role in America's maritime history.

The Coast Guard also assumed responsibility for the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939, overseeing the nation's lighthouses and lightships, including the Lightship Portsmouth during its years of active service.

Here in Hampton Roads, the Coast Guard's mission continues to be an important part of our region's story.

⚓ Happy Coast Guard Day!

08/01/2026

Did You Know? ⚓

A shipyard and a naval base aren't the same thing!

A naval base is where Navy ships are stationed, supplied, and supported while preparing for or returning from their missions.

A shipyard, on the other hand, is where ships are built, repaired, modernized, and maintained. Skilled workers including welders, electricians, machinists, and engineers keep the fleet ready for service.

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard has been doing just that for more than 250 years, making it one of the U.S. Navy's most important repair and maintenance facilities.

07/29/2026

⏳ Then & Now

Before becoming the Lightship Portsmouth, vessel LV-101 served under the name "Charles" from 1916-1924. Stationed off the coast of Virginia at Cape Charles, she acted as a floating lighthouse, guiding ships safely through busy waters for decades.

Today, this National Historic Landmark can be found along Portsmouth's waterfront, preserving the story of the men who lived and worked aboard these remarkable vessels.

📍 Visit the Lightship Portsmouth Museum at London & Water Street, Portsmouth, VA, open Fridays & Saturdays, 10 AM–4 PM.

Address

2 High Street
Portsmouth, VA
23704

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17573938591

Website

http://www.portsmouthnavalshipyardmuseum.com/

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