Museums
The City of Portsmouth owns and operates five museums, with an additional three privately owned museums. Together, they provide insight into what makes Portsmouth such a vibrant and diverse city by showcasing its history, heritage, and culture.
Children’s Museum of Virginia
Where children can imagine, explore, and discover through play.
Children’s Museum of Virginia is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Two floors of interactive exhibits, along with an unrivaled antique toy and train exhibit and state of the art planetarium, make this museum one of the most fascinating you’ll find anywhere.
Beazley
Planetarium
A full dome planetarium offering a variety of educational showings, from volcanoes to mythology.
The Lancaster Toy and
Train Exhibit
Step onto the train depot platform and walk along the ‘tracks’ to the multi-tiered Lancaster Train exhibit.
The Bubbles Exhibit
Create larger than life bubbles of various shapes and sizes in one of the museum’s most popular (and fun) exhibits.
Dr. Forces Traveling
Energy Extravaganza
A carnival sideshow demonstrates energy & physical sciences. Find out if you can lift the giant elephant!
Children’s Museum
Gift Shop
Take the excitement of learning home with a selection of toys, kits, and books.
Portsmouth Art &
Cultural Center
Dedicated to providing quality exhibits & workshops.
This Greek-Revival building built in 1846, served as the Norfolk County Courthouse until 1960. It is now home to the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, with two spacious galleries of ever-changing exhibits. Along with hosting a variety of workshops, the courtyard is usually abuzz with artist demonstrations and live music on First Friday’s from May through October.
Bring Home More Than a Memory
Shop local artistry – handmade jewelry, sculptures and more!
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Explore over 250 years of history at Portsmouth’s Naval shipyard Museum.
While seafaring and shipbuilding are a part of our heritage, they hold a significant place in our city’s history too. Portsmouth has the oldest Naval Shipyard and oldest Naval Hospital in America. Visit the Naval Shipyard Museum to learn about the city’s maritime heritage.
Lightship Portsmouth
A National Historic Landmark fitted with period accessories.
Launched in 1916, the Lightship Portsmouth was first stationed at Smith Island Shoals, Virginia and subsequently donated and dry docked at the London Pier in Portsmouth in 1964, where she took on her name. You can walk through one of the small number of surviving lightships, as the ship’s quarters are fitted out realistically with artifacts, uniforms, and more.
Portsmouth Colored Community Library
Promoting knowledge of African American history.
Built in 1945, the Portsmouth Community Library opened on South Street as a brain-child of the African American society, rather than a “Colored” or “Negro” off-spring library like in other communities. The building moved twice more, until 2007 when it found its final home on Elm Street. The City helped in efforts to renovate the historic building, which has been in operation as the Portsmouth Colored Community Library Museum since 2013.
Private Museums
Railroad Museum of Virginia
This steam locomotive was discovered in Roanoke, Virginia, and renovated to become an educational museum. This museum is currently closed but can be seen on the Path of History tour.
Hill House Museum
A historic home in Olde Towne, fully furnished with generations of family belongings from the 19th and 20th centuries, all left in their original places.
Jewish Museum & Cultural Center
This rare example of Eastern European Jewish Orthodoxy is where visitors can learn about Jewish culture and view artifacts and exhibits.
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