GA-Midnight Cruise
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2012
- Messages
- 122
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C (Sterndrive)
- Non-Fluid Motion Model
- R21, Square Grouper: R21, Goliath: R21, Sweet Pea
- Vessel Name
- St. Brendan
If you have a mariner's heart, then you'll need to put this one on your list. The largest collection of maritime artifacts, in the Western Hemisphere (60,000 sq. ft.) located on the campus of Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA. It is home to Noaa's, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Office and the Civil War Ironclad, USS Monitor. It's turret is currently in a leaching pool on display where it is undergoing several years of soaking for conservation and stabilization. The anchor and propeller have completed their stabilization and are on display. I spent the entire day, from door opening until close and still did not get to see the entire collection. The "Abandon Ship" Stories of Survival exhibition has harrowing vignettes of SOS, rescue and survival at sea stories and artifacts from as recent as the Costa Concordia to 18th century shipwrecks. You can spend half a day alone in the International Small Craft Center (ISCC) that houses everything from a Sanpan to a mint condition 1929 Chris Craft runabout and everything in between. It houses the largest collection of hand carved ships figureheads on display as well as ship models. They have a very nice restaurant on site and the admission is a reasonable $13. This is not a cheesy tourist type museum. This is a significant historical treasure trove and collection. It is a fitting tribute to our Maritime Heritage.