The museum serves as a registered rescue and rehabilitation center for injured native Virginia wildlife, including eagles and owls.
The facility is home to a colony of endangered red wolves, as part of a national Species Survival Plan.
The boardwalk nature trail is built through a protected wooded area that serves as a natural habitat for wild deer, herons, and songbirds.
The indoor aquarium exhibits represent various depths and environments of the Chesapeake Bay, featuring regional species rather than tropical fish.
The museum grounds are certified as a Virginia Native Plant Site, strictly adhering to indigenous landscaping practices.
The 'Coastal Plain' gallery features a simulated walk-through of the region's unique cave environments, including stalactite and stalagmite displays.
The planetarium features a high-definition digital projector that allows for real-time visualization of current night sky conditions.
The museum was formed by the merger of two previous organizations, the Peninsula Nature and Science Center and the Junior League of Hampton Roads.
The Virginia Living Museum is a unique hybrid institution that combines a traditional museum, science center, aquarium, and botanical garden to showcase Virginia's native wildlife. The facility features a permanent collection of over 250 species of indigenous animals, including rare red wolves and loggerhead sea turtles. Its primary indoor exhibits follow a chronological geological timeline of Virginia, from the coastal plain to the Appalachian Mountains. The outdoor nature trail winds through a 0.75-mile boardwalk path that traverses protected wetlands and forests. The Abbitt Planetarium utilizes a full-dome digital projection system to host daily astronomy shows and star-gazing sessions. Interactive animal habitats highlight local ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay and subterranean limestone caves. The museum is dedicated to environmental education and conservation biology, specifically focusing on native habitats. Rotating special exhibits are housed in the changing gallery space throughout the year.
The elevated boardwalk area of the nature trail, specifically the overlooks facing the wetlands.
Prioritize walking the outdoor nature trail early in your visit when temperatures are cooler and animals are more active.
Check the daily show schedule at the front desk upon arrival to ensure you do not miss a planetarium feature or an animal feeding demonstration.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as the nature trail consists of boardwalks and packed gravel paths.
Do not attempt to feed the wildlife along the nature trail, as it disrupts their natural diet and health.
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Maintain a quiet volume near animal enclosures to avoid stressing the wildlife; flash photography is strictly prohibited in the aquarium and planetarium.
