Newport News, Virginia
Newport News’ great location and rich history, which begins shortly after the founding of Jamestown, has shaped the city into what it is today. Located on the banks of the Hampton Roads harbor in southeastern Virginia, Newport News is minutes from Williamsburg and a short drive to Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. From this central Tidewater location, you can experience the ocean, the ships, the history and the great outdoors.
From the landing at Jamestown in 1607, to the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the 1862 Peninsula Campaign where the famous Battle of the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor took place, visitors can step back in time and learn about our nation's beginning while visiting our region. With the USS Monitor Center, historic homes, battle sites, fortifications, monuments and extraordinary collections of artifacts, history will be at the top of your list! After reliving our nation's past, come and relax and enjoy one of our many scenic parks filled with every activity imaginable from hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, golf and more to fun-filled attractions that let you get up close and personal with nature and Virginia's wildlife.
Newport News Visitor Bureau
For brochures and other great information on the city of Newport News, visit www.newport-news.org
Newport News Area Information
Historic Homes of Newport News:
The three wars fought on American soil have all left traces at Endview Plantation. One of the last remaining antebellum homes on the Virginia Peninsula, Lee Hall Mansion was used as headquarters by the Confederates during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Born a slave in Hanover County, Virginia, he sought refuge at Fort Monroe during the Civil War, and was one of the first 20 pupils to graduate from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University) and owner of the James A. Fields House in Newport News. This home also became the first black hospital in the City of Newport News. The Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center, residence to J. Thomas Newsome and served as the hub of the local black community, from which Mr. Newsome led the fight for social justice with the Commonwealth.
Visit the tourism’s website for more information on all these homes: www.newport-news.org
The Mariners’ Museum: Designated by Congress as America’s National Maritime Museum, The Mariners’ Museum offers a captivating look at centuries of seafaring adventures. Their world-class collection includes 35,000 maritime paintings, artifacts, figure heads, ship models, decorative arts and small crafts from around the world. With the $30-million addition of the Civil War attraction, the USS Monitor Center, the “Battle of the Ironclads,” is brought back to life and offers visitors the chance to walk the deck of a full-scale Monitor replica. “…one of the finest nautical museums in the country …” The Washington Post.
The Newport News Park: If you love to be outdoors, you’ll love the Newport News Park. The largest municipal park (8,000+ acres) east of the Mississippi River, Newport News Park offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, biking, mountain biking, picnicking, paddle boating, canoeing, archery and freshwater fishing. Other points of interest include year-round camping grounds, an 18-hole championship disc golf course, boat and bicycle rentals and floral gardens, including the Japanese Peace Garden with an authentic tea house.
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center (PFAC): This center is the premier arts advocate in the region working to create a stronger community through ART. Featuring dynamic changing exhibitions, thought-provoking educational programs, a year-round studio art school, an interactive gallery for children, evening mixers and family friendly activities, PFAC has something for everyone—art is what you make it! PFAC is located next to The Mariners’ Museum.
Visit the Peninsula Fine Arts Center website: www.pfac-va.org
Performing Arts: There are plenty of entertainment options in Newport News, including national touring companies of small Broadway hits, symphony concerts, comedy legends and elegant dance performances. The impressive theatres at Ferguson Center for the arts at Christopher Newport University, the new Ella Fitzgerald Theater at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center and the award-wining Peninsula Community Theatre offers a complete schedule and can be found by visiting www.newport-news.org or calling the Newport News Visitor Center at 757-886-7777 or 888-493-7386.
Shopping:
One of the fastest growing shopping areas in the US, Newport News provides an ever-evolving mix of new and exciting retail experiences, offering guests from around the world a reason to visit again and again. Whether your shopping tastes lean toward the upscale and downtown or the laid-back and hometown, you’ll find a place that fits your style. Check out these websites for further shopping information: www.city-centeratoysterpoint.com, www.shophiltonvillage.com, www.shoppatrickhenrymall.com, www.portwarwick.com, www.newport-news.org and don’t forget about our outstanding network of museum shops!
U.S. Army Transportation Museum:
The story of the Army's Transportation Corps, from horse-drawn wagons to all-terrain, armored vehicles, is told through models, dioramas and full-size vehicles and equipment at this unique museum. Visitors can explore the world of Army transportation with indoor and outdoor pavilions that feature wagons, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, locomotives, tugboats and experimental craft such as the "flying jeep." Parking is free and there is a gift shop. The museum is handicapped accessible. Please note: All visitors to Fort Eustis must show valid IDs (driver's license and/or photo ID), proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
Virginia Living Museum:
View red wolves. Get up close to a loggerhead turtle and moon jellies. Touch living spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. Living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Experience a cypress swamp and a mountain cove. Explore under the Chesapeake Bay and inside a limestone cave. Enjoy hands-on activities. Venture into space in the new state-of-the-art digital planetarium theater. On the boardwalk, see animals in naturalized habitats and native plant gardens. Visit the Virginia Living Museum website: www.thevlm.org
Virginia War Museum:
American military history unfolds at the Virginia War Museum. Collections of artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms and posters trace the development of the US military from 1775 to the present. Galleries include Women at War, Marches Toward Freedom and Visions of War, the museum's propaganda poster collection. Visit the Virginia War Museum website: www.warmuseum.org
Other Visitor Bureaus
Also visit the visitor bureaus for Williamsburg and Virginia Beach for additional area attractions, including Busch Gardens. |
