I-64 plows within a mile of the Mariner's Museum, but we almost missed the building's driveway. The actual exit to take off the interstate is well marked, but after that, those familiar brown signs disappear, leaving me slightly befuddled. Literally, traffic was so heavy, I was stuck in the middle lane of a multi-lane road with fast food joints and shopping plazas on both sides, when we spied a small sign nailed to a lightpost pointing ahead. I was angling to make a left and flow with the traffic, but luckily, we went straight--onto Museum Drive.

Leif Erickson statue just off the entryway.

So, a word of warning. When you get off I-64, head due south until you run out of pavement. Turn neither left nor right, or not until you get to the parking area for the museum. Entry cost is $6 per person, but at our hotel, we found a coupon in one of those tourist magazines for a dollar off.

This massive concrete museum appears brand new, but a note in one of the placards inside said it was in existence since the 1940s. I suspect you can find out more about their origins at their website: www.mariner.org

As it's a new place, the entry way is open and airy, and that mirrored the wonderful folks who man the museum. As it was a Wednesday morning about 10am, the museum docents outnumbered the visitors, which is quite nice because we received our own private briefing from one of them. Now, you really don't need a briefing because the map of the place explains where everything is, but it was quite nice for them to take a couple minutes to point out a few exhibits. Formal tours are twice a day if you'd like one.

More of the Mariners' Museum

Introduction
Chesapeake Bay Gallery
Monitor Restoration
Age of Exploration
Defending the Seas
Collections Gallery
Great Hall of Steam
Crabtree Collection of Miniature Ships
Other Galleries
Gift Shop and More

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