Explore Diverse Habitats at the Virginia Living Museum

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One of Virginia’s most spectacular attractions is the Virginia Living Museum located in Newport News, VA.  Anyone who loves plants, wildlife and learning about natural environments will enjoy exploring the many exhibits on display at the Virginia Living Museum.

The Virginia Living Museum consists of living exhibits in indoor and outdoor settings.  You can tour the Museum in any season and enjoy exploring the complete range of Virginia’s diverse geographic regions all in one location.  Exhibits feature wildlife as well as plants and highlight fascinating aspects of the natural wonders of each area.  Everything from mammals, birds and marine life to flowers, trees, seashores and caves are on display.

One of the most popular exhibits at Virginia’s Living Museum is the Coastal Plain Gallery.  Here you can see the incredible Chesapeake Bay exhibit brimming with plants and animals from the eastern-most area of Virginia.  There is a 30,000 gallon Aquarium housing sea creatures.  The James River Exhibit in the Piedmont and Mountains Gallery is another popular attraction featuring fish, turtles and other aquatic creatures.

The beautiful World of Darkness Gallery features a fascinating exhibit of Moon Jellyfish, bats, tree frogs, and other animals that have adapted to nocturnal life in and around Virginia’s coastal waters. The Underground Gallery explores the James River unique geological treasures in fossil, rock and mineral displays.

The Appalachian Cove & Cypress Swamp gallery immerses visitors in two very unique and enchanting habitat areas. You’ll walk through a two-story glass enclosed recreation of an endangered wetland habitat, the Cypress Swamp. Incredible cypress tupelo tree trunks and other swamp plant life as well as swamp wildlife are featured in this display.  The Appalachian Cove environment includes a mountain stream, lake, and waterfall.  The water areas contain fish and plants native to this area, and you’ll see birds enjoying free flight within the exhibit, as well.

Other exhibits and attractions at the Virginia Living Museum include four hands-on, interactive discovery center exhibits.  There is a touch tank, planetarium and theater, an observatory and even a beehive on site.  A variety of exhibits are also displayed at the Changing Exhibits Gallery throughout the year.

You will want to enjoy visiting the outdoor attractions on your visit to the Virginia Living Museum.  During your walk along the 3/4 mile boardwalk, you’ll pass through woods as well as a wetland area, cross over Deer Park Lake, and see a variety of plants, wildlife and birds that are native to Virginia. The Coastal Plain Aviary houses over 16 species of birds, and there is also a native plant butterfly garden to explore.  Red wolves, opossums, deer, and beavers are just some of the wildlife that may be seen along the boardwalk tour.