Children's Museum of Virginia

The Children's Museum of Virginia in Olde Town Portsmouth grew from a small institution founded in 1980 in the basement of the Portsmouth Public Library into Virginia's largest children's museum. After moves to the 1846 courthouse and then to its current High Street site, it expanded repeatedly, notably in 1994, 1998, and after a major renovation completed in 2011. Its development added extensive exhibit space, a planetarium, and a major antique toy and model train collection. With immersive hands-on environments, full-scale settings, and real local vehicles, it has become a longstanding family destination and a prominent museum in the state.

Portsmouth, Virginia · United States