Home>USA Tourists Attractions>Virginia Living Museum, Virginia

One of the most popular US tourist attractions is the Virginia Living Museum, Virginia. The fine Virginia Living Museum is an open air museum located in Newport News, Virginia. Virginia Living Museum, Virginia includes many living exhibits of Virginia’s indigenous species.

The Virginia Living Museum includes aspects of an aquarium, science center, aviary, botanical preserve and planetarium. The first incarnation of the present Virginia Living Museum came in the form of Junior Nature Museum and Planetarium that was opened in 1966.

In 1976, the museum was expanded and many additions were made in the form of existing natural sciences and was renamed the Peninsula Nature and Science Center. The museum began its transformation to a living museum, incorporating the living exhibits and preservation land together with traditional exhibits in 1983. Later, the museum expanded throughout the 1990s, opening the Coastal Plain Aviary in 2001 and a 62,000 square foot museum building in 2004.

With regard to exhibits, the Virginia Living Museum includes the coastal plains, the Piedmont, the underground, Appalachian Mountain Cove and cypress swamp along with a gallery of nocturnal life. There is a 5,500 square foot aviary, a butterfly garden, and area for animals living in their natural habitats, including bobcats, river otters, pelicans, and red wolves.

Family Safaris can be arranged to discover the enchantment and beauty of the natural world. Many adult classes are held to enjoy hands-on opportunities to learn about the natural world of Virginia. During the summers, children enjoy 5 fun-filled days filled with live animals, crafts and tours of the museum. Virginia Living Museum, Virginia also features overnight adventures to learn all about the celestial things.