Nauticus, Norfolk, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Nauticus is a maritime science center and museum on the downtown waterfront of Norfolk, Virginia, also known as the National Maritime Center. It is home to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the entrance to the battleship USS Wisconsin, which is berthed alongside. It matters because it tells the story of the US Navy in a port that has been tied to the sea for centuries.

The story behind it

Nauticus stands on a working piece of waterfront. Construction began in 1992 on the site of Norfolk's old Banana Pier, and the center opened to the public in 1994. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum sits on its second floor and follows the long history of the Navy in these waters.

The biggest exhibit is not inside the building at all. USS Wisconsin is one of the four Iowa-class battleships, the last and largest type of battleship the US Navy built. She arrived in Norfolk at the end of 2000 and opened for main deck tours in 2001. In 2010 the Navy handed ownership of the ship to the city of Norfolk, which is why she now sits here as a permanent neighbor to the museum.

What to look for

• Stand back on the waterfront and take in the scale of USS Wisconsin, whose long hull runs alongside the building.
• Look along the ship's deck for the big gun turrets, a reminder that Iowa-class battleships carried nine 16-inch guns.
• Notice how the building faces the Elizabeth River, with working harbor traffic passing close by.
• Inside, find the Hampton Roads Naval Museum on the second floor and the walkway that leads toward the ship.

Tips for your visit

• Plan a couple of hours if you want to see the exhibits and the battleship, and longer if you like naval history. Check current opening hours and which parts of the ship are open before you go.
• The main deck tour of the Wisconsin is outdoors, so bring sun protection in summer and a layer in cooler months.
• Late afternoon is a pleasant time for the waterfront, when the light softens over the river.
• Nauticus is part of the downtown waterfront, so restaurants, shops and the riverside paths are all within a short walk.

See it on a quest

Nauticus is one of the places you reach on Ghost Hunt in Norfolk, a self-guided walk with a ghostly theme. You go on foot from stop to stop through downtown, the app tells you about each place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.