The Mariners' Museum and Park

See important ships and artifacts spanning centuries of nautical exploration.

This museum was founded in 1930 by Archer Milton Huntington. Archer was the son of Collis P. Huntington, a railroad builder. He brought the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway to Virginia and founded the City of Newport News, its coal export facilities, and Newport News Shipbuilding. Archer Huntington and his wife Anna acquired 800 acres and along with the lake, the research library, and a 5-mile trail, plus over 35,000 maritime artifacts from around the world for The Mariners Museum & Park. The museum explores global maritime history with miniature ship models, maritime paintings, decorative arts and carved figureheads. Guests will also see working steam engines and art collections by marine artists James Bard and Antonio Jacobsen.

Some artifacts from the USS Monitor are represented at the museum. The USS Monitor was part of an influential naval battle with the CSS Virginia during the Civil War. On March 9, 1862, the 2 ironclad ships fought for over 4 hours and they both withdrew with no winner. The Monitor did sink in North Carolina on December 31, 1862. Thousands of artifacts have been recovered, and there is a replica of the USS Monitor in the museum yard that visitors can climb. The museum is open Monday - Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Be sure to explore the grounds and park outside. The Noland Trail loops around the Mariner's Lake and is about 5-miles long.