Welcome to the Virginia Living Museum
Virginia’s Animal Attraction & Dino Destination
The Virginia Living Museum is a successful public-private partnership, since 1966, between the City of Newport News and the Virginia Living Museum, a public non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (54-6055922). Together we connect people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation.
BUILT by the Community, BELOVED by the Community and SUSTAINED by the Community, the Museum depends on private donations to succeed. We appreciate your financial contribution to support engaging education, animal welfare and conservation experiences for you and your family. Please consider a gift to our Annual Fund or a planned gift to our Endowment for future sustainability.
What You’ll See
Animals in Action
The Virginia Living Museum is home to more than 250 species of animals found in Virginia including reptiles, mammals, birds and fish. We provide a sanctuary for orphaned, non-releasable or injured animals.
Plants in Action
The Virginia Living Museum has one of the largest displays of native plants in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Geology in Action
The Virginia Living Museum’s Underground Gallery is a journey back through Virginia’s ancient past, a past that has created a rich and colorful present.
Planetarium in Action
Travel the universe in the digital state-of-the-art Abbitt Planetarium Theater. The 71-seat planetarium theater, renovated and upgraded in 2008, offers a fully digital simulation of the sky.
Conservation in Action
The Virginia Living Museum is a certified Virginia Green attraction committed to minimizing its environmental impacts by preventing pollution wherever feasible in its operations.
Happening Today
Animal Feedings
Museum Public Events
Happening Now on Social Media
The Virginia Living Museum plant sale is coming, with more options than ever. Today, we are highlighting Blue Phlox, an excellent native Virginia plant. Get some yourself and check out the numerous other plant species on April 20-21 and 27-28!
It's the second Saturday of the month, and that means stargazing at the Virginia Living Museum! We're excited to once again welcome the Gravitational Wave Physics Group from Christopher Newport University as they present a FREE live science show at 5:15PM. Hang around after the show to try out some hands-on science demos, view the night sky (weather permitting), and catch a planetarium or rock-and-roll laser show (fee required). It's going to be a great evening of science and music - come join us! We'll be trying to see Jupiter, Uranus, and maybe even Comet Pons-Brooks/12P.