Williamsburg Area Home To Fascinating Museums
Williamsburg is known for it’s historic gems. Most people travel to Jamestown Settlement or Colonial Williamsburg. However, there are so many other things to enjoy in Williamsburg. Many of these interesting attractions are local museums. If you’re planning a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia there are a few must-see museums!
This is decidedly one of the strangest houses in Colonial Williamsburg. Everything from the L shape to the lack of dormers are unusual features for the era and location of the house. Not only was this original house used as a private residence, but it housed many of Geddy’s business ventures including a gunsmith, foundry, and silversmith. Very little renovation has taken place since the house was built in 1792, but small changes have been made in the traditional look.
Since you’re already going to be in the area, make a point to visit the Mariner’s Museum. This museum is filled with fascinating exhibits, some of which are permanent collections and others are temporary traveling exhibits. Message In A Bottle is the current featured exhibit. This fascinating exhibit is a photographic showcase of the garbage and waste dumped into the ocean. There are also sculptures made from trash that the artists fished out of the water!
Isle of Wight Museum is home to incredibly fascinating and unbelievably odd exhibits. The featured exhibits range from prehistoric fossils to a classic country store. The most notable exhibit is the Smithfield ham exhibit. Isle of Wight museum houses the world’s oldest Smithfield ham, which was cured in 1902. This famous ham is displayed center-stage in a glass case. There is also an exhibit showcasing the world’s largest ham, as decided by the Guinness Book of World Records. This 2,200 pound ham is not located in the museum, but there is an interactive exhibit.
Another unique museum in the Yorktown, Virginia area is the Waterman’s Museum. This fascinating museum is located on the banks of the York River. The museum features exhibits on fishing and boat building, along with artifacts from Revolutionary War era. The mission of the Waterman’s Museum is to honor and commemorate the role that watermen played in shaping our nation from the beginning.
Enjoy Water-Themed Fun in Williamsburg, VA
Williamsburg is well known for its historic significance and traveler’s come from across the country to see the historic attractions of the area. However, Williamsburg is more than a living history museum. It is also a great place for water recreation. Whether it’s cascading down a water slide, sailing on the Atlantic or visiting a Mariner’s Museum, Williamsburg is a great place to visit if you enjoy water.
Water Country USA is the largest family water park in the mid-Atlantic. Here you can raft, tube, flume, slide or surf for hours of splashing, sliding, swimming fun! With over 35 wet and wild rides and slides, you can frolic in the water all day long! If the rides get to be too much after a while, Water Country USA also has over 1,500 chairs for lounging around and sun tanning. Enjoy exciting rides like the Aquazoid, Big Daddy Falls, and Rampage, and play in the Surfer’s Bay wave pool with daunting four foot waves. There is so much water to enjoy at Water Country USA.
If you want to ride some real waves, climb aboard the Schooner Alliance to hit the high seas on an unforgettable sailing cruise. Here you can sail in the ocean and along the banks of the York River, passing major landmarks like the Victory Monument and the Yorktown battlefield. Experience the history of the area while enjoying the unique thrill of sailing.
Mariners’ Museum – Newport News, VA
For a look at nautical history, the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia is the place to visit. With over 35,000 nautical objects and collections, the Mariner’s Museum covers a wide range of history, chronicling sea exploration, shipbuilding and marine warfare. Visitors can enjoy viewing ship models, paintings and an extensive photography collection. The museum also includes an impressive 18,000 square foot exhibit highlighting the epic battle between two Civil War warships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. The interior replicas, artifacts and multimedia displays will help you learn more about this historic battle.
