Newport News is not only about shipbuilding and maritime. There is so much more to it. Natural beauty, art, culture and entertainment can be found as well. Connect with the natural heritage, browse the maritime exhibits, appreciate the art, take a walk in the largest municipal park in the state, learn about the history of the area, and indulge in outdoor activities like paddle boat, biking, canoe ride, golf and fishing. There are lots of things to do and see in Newport News. We’ve narrowed down some of Newport News best tourist spots that are sure to please everyone.
Glimpse of Seafaring Adventures at The Mariner’s Museum!
Image by Mytwocents at English Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Mariners’ Museum is one of the North America’s largest maritime museums. It features maritime history dating back 3,000 years. The exhibits include handcrafted ship models, Civil War ironclad artifacts, Art of the Sea collection, over 35,000 maritime paintings, rare figureheads, ship models collection, and other artifacts from maritime life. It also houses a USS Monitor Center that features the history of ironclad and the people involved. The center features historical artifacts Civil War Ironclads and interactive displays. Visitors can also walk the deck of huge replica of Monitor. It also has a museum shop from where visitors can shop of one-of-a-king maritime souvenirs. A trip back to the Civil War era!
Address: 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
Phone: 1 757-596-2222
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Get up-close with native wildlife at Virginia Living Museum!
Image By Ryan Somma from Occoquan, USA (Outdoor Exhibits Uploaded by Morgan Riley) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Pop into Virginia Living Museum, an open-air museum that features the natural history of Virginia. It features over 250 indigenous species of plants and animals. It houses a variety of animals from swamp animals to coastal Appalachian to the marshes. See the native wildlife in their natural habitat, including eagles, wild alligators, red wolves, fish, river otters and more. It also has a planetarium from where sky can be viewed, an observatory, aquariums, a wildlife park, aviaries, nature trails, a science museum, and botanical gardens. Take a walk on the elevated boardwalk, feel the underwater wonders of the world at the touch tank, and see a living replica of mountain cove and a cypress swamp. It is a perfect place for nature lovers!
Address: 524 J Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601, United States
Phone: 1 757-595-1900
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 9:00am-5:00pm
Admire the art at Peninsula Fine Arts Center!
Map data: Google, DigitalGlobe
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center features a rotating art exhibits by contemporary local and regional artists. It also houses a hands-on kid’s gallery for children, a studio art school and several educational materials. Kids can create beautiful piece of art work at the gallery. The original works of art on display at the center will certainly stimulate your creativity.
Address: 101 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
Phone: 1 757-596-8175
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Explore the Virginia War Museum that traces American military history!
Image By Mytwocents at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Virginia War Museum features the military history of America from 1775 to the present day. It features over 65,000 U.S. military artifacts that include photographs, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, cannons, war posters, and other memorabilia. Highlights include Women at War exhibits, Dachau Concentration Camp outer wall, Berlin Wall, propaganda poster collection, Harry Truman’s World War I helmet, and Marches toward Freedom exhibit. Shop for unique souvenirs from the gift shop onsite.
Address: 9285 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23607, United States
Phone: 1 757-247-8523
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Venture into U.S. Army Transportation Museum!
Image By Yellowute at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum features the army transportation history from colonial era to the present day by air, rail and sea. It has transport equipments, miniature models, trains, helicopters, jeeps, full-size vehicles, wagons, tugboats and other memorabilia of U.S. Army Transportation. Highlights include AVRO-Car flying saucer, Vietnam War gun truck, and hovercraft.
Address: 300 Washington Blvd, Newport News, VA 23604, United States
Phone: 1 757-878-1109
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00am-4:30pm
A walk into American history at Endview Plantation!
Endview Plantation is an eighteenth century plantation that has witness 1812 War, the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. The military forces used this spot during the American Civil War and Revolutionary War. It has an exhibition gallery, gift shop, and several special events are held all year-round. Civil War reenactments are held with replica weapons and uniformed soldiers. It features the history of America through interesting exhibits and highlights how Civil War has shaped the economy, lifestyle and culture of America. Walk in and out of the grounds, see the old cabins where soldiers stayed during war and explore the history.
Address: 362 Yorktown Rd, Newport News, VA 23603, United States
Phone: 1 757-887-1862
Opening hours: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm; Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
American African history unfolds at James A. Fields House!
The James A. Field House features the history of Americans of African heritage. The house was home to the first hospital for blacks in Newport News. Today, it highlights the life of African-American community during the 1900s in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and the history of James A. Fields.
Address: 617 27th Street, Newport News, VA 23607, United States
Phone: 1 757-245-1991
Opening hours: Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm
A trip back into mid-Victorian period at Lee Hall Mansion!
Image By Cliff (originally posted to Flickr as Lee Hall Mansion) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Lee Hall Mansion is an antebellum home that was built during 1848 to 1859 by Richard Decauter Lee, a wealthy planter of Warwick County. Take a tour of the Lee Hall Mansion that features furnished period rooms, Civil War exhibits and other memorabilia. It showcases the lives of the wealthy people who lived in the area during the 1850s. Step back in past!
Address: 163 Yorktown Rd, Newport News, VA 23603, United States
Phone: 1 757-888-3371
Opening hours: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm; Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Explore nature at Newport News Park!
Map data: Google, DigitalGlobe
Newport News Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the region. It features several lakes, natural woodlands, meadows, picnic shelters and floral gardens. It also include a disc golf course, a 5-mile bike trail, 30 miles of hiking trails, fresh water reservoirs and a horse show arena. Fishing, boating, camping, golfing, archery, canoeing and biking are the predominant activities. Stroll in the park, try your luck in catching fish from the freshwater lakes or go disc golfing, hiking or biking. Native wildlife can be found within the meadows and woodlands, including raccoon, river otters, foxes and deer, among others. It is a perfect place for outdoor lovers!
Address: 13560 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23603, United States
Phone: 1 757-886-7912
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Catch a show at Ferguson Center for the Arts!
Located on Christopher Newport University campus, the Ferguson Center for the Arts is a theater and concert hall that features ballet performance, Broadway shows, Virginia Symphony orchestra and band performances. It showcases a variety of performances attracting plenty of people from around the world. See stage shows, dance performances, musicals and much more. Enhance your Newport News experience!
Address: 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA 23606, United States
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm; Saturday: 10:00am-2:00pm
Tour the Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center!
The Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center features African-American history, art and culture through interactive exhibits and artifacts. It is a restored 1899 Victorian house of J. Thomas Newsome, a Civil Right Pioneer and a respected African-American Newport News attorney. Several events are also held at this house.
Address: 2803 Oak Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607, United States
Phone: 1 757-247-2360
Family fun day at Huntington Park!
Image by Mytwocents at English Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Huntington Park features a tennis park, a beach, a rose garden, James River Fishing Pier, Holocaust Remembrance and Vietnam War memorials, several other parks like the Fort Fun, and a small pond. Fort Fun includes barbeque areas, playground for kids and picnic space. Take a walk through the rose garden that features more than 45 varieties of roses. Pay respect to those who died during Vietnam War and to the victims of Holocaust at the memorials. Go boating, fishing, or play ball games. There is little something for everyone in this park!
Address: Riverpark Rd, Newport News, VA 23607, United States
Phone: 1 757-886-7912
Best Tourist Spots in Newport News Map Guide
