Donating Artifacts to the Museum
Each year, new objects are added to the museum through the generosity of donors. These donations help the Hampton Roads Naval Museum fulfill its mission to document the history of the Navy.
If you have artifacts that you believe would add to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum's collection please contact HRNM's Curator, Tonia Deetz Rock, at 757-322-2984 or tonia.deetzrock.civ@us.navy.mil.
Please do not send any historical items until the museum agrees to accept them. Please use the form to describe the items you propose to donate, including measurements and specific conditions of objects or documents. Images are most welcome.
Once we receive your donation information the museum's accessions committee will evaluate the proposed donation. The committee will consider how the proposed donation relates to the museum's existing historical collections; the future development of those collections for exhibit, educational, and public research needs; the Naval History and Heritage Command's artifact and archival collections nationwide; and other museums that already specialize in a subject. The committee also weighs the resources the museum must provide to store the item, care for it, catalog it, and make it available for use.
If your proposed donation is accepted by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, museum staff will contact you to arrange delivery of the donated materials. The final step is completing the Deed of Gift for the donation, which legally transfers the property to the Navy. The Director of Naval History is the final accepting authority for the museum, and the donation is not considered complete until the Director signs the form.
Thank you for considering the Hampton Roads Naval Museum as a possible depository for your historical property.
