Mariner's Museum, Newport News, Virginia

The Mariner's Museum, located in Newport News, Virginia is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. There are over 60,000 square feet of exhibition space, and more than 35,000 items are on display including artifacts, figureheads, ship models and small crafts.

The museum, located just twenty minutes from Williamsburg, Virginia, at 100 Museum Drive in Newport News, also offers educational programs and a hands-on section designed with children in mind.

The expansive permanent exhibits cover a variety of maritime topics.

Age of Exploration

Covering the time from the 1400's through the 1700's, this exhibit charts the progress made in terms of cartography, ship building and navigation that paved the way for the future of nautical developments. There is a hands-on area in this exhibit where visitors can closely explore reproductions of early nautical equipment.

The Miniature Ships of Augustus F. Crabtree

This is one of the most popular exhibits at the Mariner's Museum. Consisting of more than 350 carved figures, these ships, which were carved by artist Augustus F. Crabtree, detail boatbuilding throughout the centuries.

Defending the Seas

A museum devoted to things of the sea would not be complete with an exhibit that featured the role the navy has played, and continues to play, in maritime history. This exhibit includes five separate sections and tells the story of the history of the United States Navy.

International Small Craft Center

This large exhibit covers almost 18,000 square feet and includes 150 specimens from all over the world. There are sections for hybrid boats, fishing boats, examples of vessels used for transportation and even surfboards are included. There is also a research library housed in this part of the museum.

Another visitor favorite is the section that includes hundreds of artifacts that were taken from the sunken Civil War ship the USS Monitor.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also features an ever-changing selection of traveling and exhibitions. These have included Waters of Despair, Waters of Hope: African Americans and the Chesapeake Bay and From Dream to Reality: SS United States.

One visitor said there was so much to see that they ended up spending far more than the time suggested by the AAA handbook. She said, "We got there around 10, and left at around 4...we could have spent more time. (Just for amusement, the AAA guide suggests 2 hours.)'' She said she plans to visit again so that she can see all of the things she missed.

There is a gift shop and cafy located in the museum as well as an outdoor area surrounding a 167-acre lake where visitors can enjoy a picnic or just take a leisurely stroll.

Check the website for current exhibits and admission prices.