Attractions

Downtown Hampton is the home of exciting area attractions including the Virginia Air and Space Center featuring the Riverside IMAX Theatre and the 1920’s Hampton Carousel, one of less than 200 antique carousels still operating in the United States. History buffs can tour the Hampton History Museum and Hampton University Museum or visit historic St. John’s Church, the oldest English-speaking parish in America. Whether you’re here to stay, or just visiting, Downtown Hampton has it all – from the Sea to the Stars!

Hampton Visitors Center
Start your day at the Hampton Visitor Center, located inside the new Hampton History Museum. Here you will see an orientation video and find a wealth of information about the area, including maps, brochures and Hampton gift ideas.

120 Old Hampton Lane
800.800.2202/757.727.1102
www.hamptoncvb.com
Hours: Open Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and January 1.
Admission:  Free

Virginia Air & Space Center
Located in Hampton, Virginia, the birthplace of America’s space program, the Virginia Air & Space Center features dozens of hands-on air and space exhibits, a premiere interactive aviation gallery that spans 100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, unique space flight artifacts and more! Your imagination will soar as you launch a rocket, pilot a space shuttle, become an air traffic controller, fly an airplane, and climb aboard a WWII bomber! Come face to face with the Apollo 12 Command Module that went to the moon, a Mars meteorite, a DC-9 passenger jet, a replica 1903 Wright Flyer and more!

600 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
1.800.296.0800/757.727.9700
www.vasc.org
Hours: Open 7 days a week
Admission Prices for Exhibits Only:
Non-members: Adult: $9.00, Children (3-18)/Student: $7.00, Seniors (65+)/Military/NASA/Riverside Employees: $8.00, Members: FREE

Hampton History Museum
The museum’s ten permanent galleries share Hampton’s history from its early occupation by the Kecoughtan Tribe through the 20th century. A changing gallery is located on the second floor.  Visit the gift shop and take apiesc of Hampton History home with you.

120 Old Hampton Lane
800.800.2202/757.727.1610
www.hampton.va.us/history_museum
Hours: Open Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
Admission:  $5 adults; $4 children ages 4 – 12, active military, active NASA and seniors; $3 group tours of 10 or more. Free admission for children age 4 and under.

Hampton University Museum
Founded in 1868, the museum is the oldest African American museum in the U.S. and one of the oldest museums in Virginia. The museum features a collection of 1,200 artifacts and works of art, including traditional African, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander. A changing gallery showcases new and established artists.

Hampton University Campus
757-727-5308
www.hamptonu.edu
Hours:  Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday – Sunday, 12 noon – 4 p.m.; closed major holidays and campus holidays
Admission:  Free

Historic Hampton Carousel
With the popularity of antique carousels at its peak, Hampton's restored 1920 merry-go-round has drawn thousands of visitors to the city's downtown waterfront. One of only 200 antique carousels still in the United States, the Hampton Carousel is a rare and beautiful example of American folk art. Its prancing steeds and stately chariots were painstakingly carved from fine-grained hardwood and painted by German, Italian and Russian immigrant artisans.
Housed in its own pavilion, Hampton's Carousel is a whirling tribute to the skill of its creators. It still boasts its original mirrors and oil paintings, as well as 48 intricately decorated horses. Rising and falling to the strains of the original band organ, many of these carousel horses are so finely carved that the veins in their necks and legs are visible.

600 Settlers Landing Road
757.727.0900  Ext. 780
www.vasc.org/visitvasc/carousel.html
Hours:  Call for hours of operation
Admission:  1 for $1.50, 5 for $5, 25 for $18.75

Cousteau Society National Headquarters
Overlooking the scenic Hampton River, visitors get a close-up look at the extraordinary man who captured the wonders of the undersea world on film. Visitors to the center will see artifacts from Cousteau’s explorations, replicas of the famous research vessels Calypso and Alcyone, diving equipment, a shark cage and more.

710 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
757-722-9300
www.cousteausociety.org
Hours:  Call for seasonal hours
Admission:  Free

Miss Hampton II
Set sail on the double-decked tour boat and get a taste of Hampton’s seafaring culture as you take to the water to see Blackbeard’s Point, Old Point Comfort, Fort Wool, and the awesome fleet of the world’s largest Navy installation, Norfolk Naval Base.  Purchase Tickets at the office located inside the Cousteau Society National Headquarters.  Charters Welcome.  Tour time is approximately two and a half hours.

710 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
888.757.2628/757.722.9102
www.misshamptoncruises.com
Open for Tours:  April – October, Tuesday – Sunday at 10:30am; Memorial Day – Labor Day, 10:30am and 2:00pm DAILY
Admission:  $19 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $10 for children ages 6-11, children under 6 are free

Hampton Roads Charter:  The Ocean Eagle
Go where the fish are with Captain Howard Wainwright aboard his 65' head boat the Ocean Eagle departing from the Hampton Public Piers at 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. daily. Experience an exciting five-hour fishing trip to the Lower Chesapeake Bay for $25 per person. Bait, tackle and rods are included and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Remember rockfish season starts on October 14th and private parties and charters are also available. 

Settlers Landing Road
757.868.FISH
www.hamptonroadscharter.com
Call for scheduling, rates and reservations.

St. Johns Church
Established in 1610, St. John’s is the oldest continuous English-speaking parish in the U.S. The church has been at its present site since 1728. A recorded message introduces visitors to the church and its features, including a stained-glass window depicting the baptism of Pocahontas. For a guided tour, call the parish. Admission is free.

100 W. Queens Way
757-722-2567
www.stjohnshampton.org
Hours:  Open Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 noon. Services are held on Thursdays at 10 a.m. and on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Closed major holidays.
Admission: Free

Riverside IMAX Theatre
IMAX® (short for "image maximum") is the world's largest motion picture format, offering viewers an unparalleled sense of realism and motion. In our unique, technologically advanced theater, images of awesome power are projected onto a five-story screen and enhanced by 16,000 watts of digital sound. We have a variety of IMAX® films focusing on a wide range of topics.

3D IMAX
IMAX 3D technology is the most advanced 3D film technology in the world and is based on human vision. When you look at an object, each of your eyes sees a slightly different view. Through a process called "stereopsis" your brain brings the two views together into a single three-dimensional image.

600 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 727-0900
http://www.vasc.org/imax/
Hours: Call or visit website for showtimes
Admission:  Rates vary, Call or visit website for more information