Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Permanent Exhibits

Battleship Wisconsin - Silver Service

The people of Wisconsin donated a complete dinner and tea silver set for battleship's wardroom. On display are over 20 pieces of wardroom silver used on both BB-9 and BB-64. (Photo of coffee and tea set courtesy of Greg Vick).

Highlights from the Museum's Gallery

The center of the Museum’s mission are the permanent exhibits in the Museum’ gallery. From the 18th century Virginia State Navy to the 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads to the modern day ships at Naval Station Norfolk, the gallery exhibits tell the courageous story of  American sailors and ships in Hampton Roads.

When you visit the museum, some of the artifacts you will see are

-A painting of the 1781 Battle off the Virginia Capes by V. Zveg

- A 1798 18-pounder cannon from the frigate USS Constellation

-Several artifacts from the cruiser CSS Florida and the sloop-of-war USS Cumberland

-The original builder’s model of the ill-fated battleship USS Maine

-A Mark 7 undersea mine from World War I

-A torpedo warhead from the German submarine U-352

-A 1944 coxswain navigation map of Omaha Beach

-The original builder’s model of the aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66)

-Hundreds of images, paintings, and photographs

Online Exhibits

The web exhibits are a result of a cooperative arrangement between HRNM and Commander, Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic, which provides the public information on historic architectural resources at Navy bases in Hampton Roads.

The 1907 Jamestown Exposition

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown colony, Norfolk assembled one of the great world's fairs.

Launch Exhibit

McClure Field

Construction started on McClure Field in 1918 as part  of the Navy’s massive effort to build an operating base for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet here in Norfolk, Virginia. The "Athletic Field" was built as a multi-purpose complex, designed to serve the Navy's many physical fitness programs, which included baseball, football and track events. Finally opened on June 20, 1920, it is still used today by thousands of sailors for intramural softball games. Renamed McClure Field in 1944, it is second only to Chicago's Wrigley Field as the oldest brick baseball stadium in the nation.

Launch Exhibit

Chambers Field

The Naval Air Station Historic District is made up of 88 buildings and structures, which represent all aspects of the Air Station's mission. The historic buildings in the district were constructed between 1917 and 1948. The most intense period of development occurred from 1941 to 1943. Serving through World War II, the Cold War and into the present, the hangars, airfield maintenance areas, barracks, officer housing facilities and administrative buildings stand as a living symbol of the historical and architectural heritage of Naval Station Norfolk.

Launch Exhibit

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is the home to a host of nationally important cultural resource sites and historic districts. The protection of these cultural resources has ensured that these sites will be preserved as symbols of the Navy's heritage and history in the Hampton Roads area. Throughout the Hampton Roads area, the Navy's cultural resources comprise an eclectic mix ranging from the Jamestown 1907 Exposition "Admiral Row" historic district to a World War II era airfield. Other important resources like the Golf Club at Naval Station Norfolk and McClure Field, the second oldest brick baseball stadium in America, continue to serve the Navy as active sports centers. From a regional focus, St. Juliens Annex has also played an important role in the growth of the Navy since the turn of the 20th century.

Launch Exhibit

Navy Supply Depot Norfolk

During World War I and World War II this was one of the busiest corners of Naval Station Norfolk. NSD Norfolk was commissioned in 1919 as the Naval Supply Station and was designated a Supply Depot in 1927. At the heart of the historic Supply Depot area is Building W143. Built in 1942 as Naval Supply Depot Headquarters, this was once the largest government building south of the Pentagon. Today W143 is home to Fleet Industrial and Supply Center Norfolk. In the on-line presentation, you will learn about the history of the Supply Depot, the people who worked there and the equipment used to provide "Service to the Fleet."

Launch Exhibit

St. Juliens Creek Annex

For many years, the U.S. Navy produced and store ammunition at its St. Juliens Creek facility across the river from Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The facility served as a primary production facility for naval artillery guns and undersea mines. Of its many production lines, the most famous was the facilities production of over 100,000 Mark 7 mines for the World War I "North Sea Mine Barrage" operation.

Launch Exhibit

Norfolk Naval Shipyard-Portsmouth

Since 1801, Norfolk Naval Shipyard has served as one of the U.S. Navy's premier ship repair and construction facilities.

Launch Exhibit