8 Must-See Historical Stops in Hampton Roads

As a former tourism professional in the area, I’ve seen a lot of what the area has to offer. I’ll keep it to my eight favorites here but you can send me a message for more recommenations on additional great spots to visit.

1. The Virginia Air & Space Museum

Conveniently located along Hampton’s waterfront, this may seem as an unconventional choice to learn history, but the interpretation of NACA/NASA Langley’s early years as well as the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury programs is exceptional. The IMAX, science exhibits and displays of NASA’s future are all added bonus to the history on site.

2. Fort Monroe National Monument and the Casemate Museum

A visit to Fort Monroe is a visit to American history. Start with a visit to the Casemate Museum to learn about the unique history of the spot of land known as Old Point Comfort. Enslaved Africans first reached the shores of English-speaking North America there, more than 200 years before men escaping slavery sought and secured their freedom there, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. Famous men, like Chief Blackhawk walked the fort’s ground during his interment there and Jefferson Davis was chained inside a casemate cell during his post-Civil War imprisonment. After the museum tour, drive or walk through the fort to see the spots where so much history happened.

3. Bacon’s Castle

Virginia boasts many colonial buildings, but Bacon’s Castle stands out for its unique characteristics. Claiming to be the oldest brick dwelling in North America, the home is also the only extant high-Jacobean manor house on the North American mainland. Even seasoned history will be amazed at style they can’t see anywhere else in the nation.

4. Colonial Williamsburg

Costumed interpreters, immersive living history programs, art and artifact museums along with period-inspired dining and retail make Colonial Williamsburg a visit to

Remember. For a truly exceptional experience, consider a visit during a holiday (Fourth of July and the pre-Christmas season) for an incredible fireworks show above the Governors Mansion. Fireworks dates can be found on the organization’s website.

5. Historic Jamestowne

Though other sites in the area also interpret settlement at Jamestown, this part of the National Park system is on the actual footprint on the Jamestowne site. You can feel the history as you navigate the ruined foundations and look out onto the river, just like the starving colonists did as they waited for supplies.

6. American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

This expansive museum and living-history site enables visitors to experience the final major battle of the American Revolution like never before. A newer facility, indoor exhibits feel state of the art, setting it apart from many other area museums.

7. Hampton University Museum

While not a traditional history museum - most collections are art - here will find historical artifacts from the college and learn a great deal of American history from the wonderful interpretation accompanying the pieces of fine and folk art. Henry O. Tanner’s The Banjo Lesson is the museum’s most prominent piece, basking in its description as “history’s most famous Black painting”.

8. The Mariners Museum

Home to the preservation of the USS Monitor, this museum goes beyond interpretations of the Civil War’s battle of the ironclads. Exhibits range from ancient sailing to modern industrial shipping and all eras in between. Though the museum itself in on dry land in Newport News, you’ll be walking out with your sea legs.