Museums in:

Portsmouth, Virginia

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Children's Museum of Virginia

Portsmouth, Virginia

Children's

While the Children’s Museum of Virginia is closed for renovations, the fun, excitement, and imagination continues at Andalo’s Clubhouse. Andalo, the museum mascot, presents hands-on exhibits, room for birthday parties, family fun days, and educational programs – just like the Children’s Museum of Virginia always has! The new address is 420 High Street, Olde Towne Portsmouth.

Chrysler Museum of Art

Norfolk, Virginia

Art

Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Courthouse Galleries

Portsmouth, Virginia

Art

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Norfolk, Virginia

History, Military

Relive the naval battles and events that took place in Norfolk and helped shape the nation's history through the museum's exhibits. Battles like those off the Virginia Capes during the American Revolution, Civil War (the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia), World War II and Desert Storm are illustrated through detailed ship models, naval artwork, underwater artifacts and traditional exhibits.

Hunter House Victorian Museum

Norfolk, Virginia

Historic House

The Romanesque Revival townhome, c. 1894, was built for merchant James W. Hunter. Exhibits include Victorian furnishings, decorative arts and architecture.

Nauticus, The National Maritime Center

Norfolk, Virginia

History

Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Ohef Sholom Temple Archives and Library Committee

Norfolk, Virginia

History

Ohef Sholom Temple Archives occupies a unique position as a religious institution in the region. For a century and a half members have left their mark on the development and growth of this community. To preserve important data that tell the story, to keep faith with those who have gone before and to inform generations to come, the Temple Board has designated a special room and funds for a Temple Archives. It is the responsibility of Ohef Sholom Temple Archives to make its vast resources available to the school aged children of Tidewater. These resources include period textiles, photographs, print media and video.

Portlock Galleries at SoNo

Chesapeake, Virginia

Art

Portsmouth Museums Foundation

Portsmouth, Virginia

Art, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Military, Science, Specialized

The Portsmouth Museums Foundation is comprised of a 24-person regional board representing Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and has a full time Executive Director and a part time assistant. Our mission is to generate private sector financial support for all four of the Portsmouth museums which include the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, Children’s Museum of Virginia, Courthouse Galleries and the Lightship Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Planetarium

Portsmouth, Virginia

Planetarium

Portsmouth Planetarium in Portsmouth, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The Fred Heutte Center

Norfolk, Virginia

Nature Centers

The Fred Heutte Center in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

The Norfolk Historical Society

Norfolk, Virginia

Historical Society

The Norfolk Historical Society interprets and preserves the history of Norfolk, a Virginia seaport city chartered in 1682. The Society collects, preserves, and makes available to the public objects and records relating to Norfolk's history.

Tugboat Museum

Norfolk, Virginia

Tugboat Museum in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Virginia Zoological Society

Norfolk, Virginia

Zoo

Virginia Zoological Society in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

D'Art Center

Norfolk, Virginia

Art

The d’ART Center – Your Connection to the Visual Arts! The d'ART Center is teeming with wonderful, amazing, unbridled creative energy. Why wait for an art show, connect with the creative process year round as 41 resident artists create one-of a kind artwork in lampwork glass, painting, photography, pottery, mixed media and more. Inspiring creativity, d'ART offers a variety of adult and children's art classes and camps for all skill levels. World class local, regional and national art exhibitions continually transform the d'ART Centers 5 sky-lit galleries.

Hermitage Museum & Gardens

Norfolk, Virginia

Art, Botanical Garden, History, Historic House, Nature Centers, Park

A fine arts museum housed in Tudor style home on 13 acres along the Lafayette River. The Hermitage Foundation Museum is truly a celebration of the arts. Some of the works include Italian and French textiles and laces, English and European ceramics and paintings, hand painted glass from Germany, ivory carvings, Persian rugs, and ritual bronzes and ceramic tomb figures from China.

Lightship Portsmouth Museum

Portsmouth, Virginia

History, Military

Norfolk State University Planetarium

Norfolk, Virginia

Planetarium

Norfolk State University Planetarium in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Old Dominion University Art Gallery

Norfolk, Virginia

Art

Old Dominion University Art Gallery in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Portsmouth Historical Association

Portsmouth, Virginia

History, Historic House

See listing for Hill House.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Portsmouth, Virginia

Culture, History, Historical Society, Library, Military, Science, Specialized

During the Revolutionary War, the shipyard was described by the British as “the most considerable one in America.” It’s been burned three times by retreating armies because of its strategic importance. Many historic ships have been built here, including the CSS VIRGINIA (EX-MERRIMAC), the first ironclad to engage in battle; the nation’s first battleship, the TEXAS; and the world’s first aircraft carrier, the LANGLEY. The shipyard is also home to the country’s first drydock, which is still in use. At its peak during WWII, the yard employed nearly 43,000 workers.

Pretlow Planetarium

Norfolk, Virginia

Planetarium, Science, University

The Old Dominion University Mary D. Pretlow Planetarium is located adjacent to the Chemical Sciences building, Alfriend Hall, on the main campus.

The MacArthur Memorial

Norfolk, Virginia

History, Library, Military, Specialized

The memorial depicts the life and times of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Housed in Norfolk's 1850 city hall, it is the final resting place of Gen. and Mrs. MacArthur.

Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center

Portsmouth, Virginia

Art

Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center in Portsmouth, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

Portsmouth, Virginia

History, Specialized, University

On April 22, 2005, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum opened it's new 35,000 square-foot facility in Downtown Portsmouth. The new family attraction includes college sports, media, Olympic, golf and Redskins exhibits, hands-on baseball, basketball, football and soccer activities, interactive games and activities, and auto racing computer simulators. The Hall's Digital Theater features a 16 foot HD projector screen and will be a great place to learn about Virginia's Sports traditions and to watch the game!

Wise Art Gallery

Norfolk, Virginia

Art

Wise Art Gallery in Norfolk, VA is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

March 10 - March 13, 2026

California Association of Museums 2026 Annual Conference

California Association of Museums

Omni Hotel

Los Angeles, California

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2026 conference, set to take place from March 10–13, 2026 in Los Angeles. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community at CAM 2026: Reframing

Reframing encapsulates the tangible nature of museum work–what we restore, revive, and rebuild–and the intangible nature of museum work–where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. On a larger scale, Reframing gives us the power to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community. Reframing is resistance and resilience.

We look forward to reuniting with the California museum community in Los Angeles, March 10–13, 2026 at the Omni Hotel. Stay tuned for more annual conference developments.

April 29 - May 2, 2026

Oregon Museum Association 2026 Conference

Oregon Museums Association

Woodburn, Oregon

OMA will join forces with Oregon Heritage for a spring conference in Woodburn

Save the Date: 2026 Conference

For more information, please call !!!.

February 16 - February 18, 2026

Small Museum Association 42nd Annual Conference 2026

Small Museum Association

The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

42nd Annual Conference: Climate Chang

Explore how museums are dealing with the challenges of climate change, from more extreme weather events to changing community needs. Join other small museum professionals and volunteers in discussing the key role small museums can play in educating, engaging, and supporting their communities in the face of changing physical and social climates

About the Conferenc

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues. We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers.

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