Located on the Yorktown, Virginia waterfront just upriver from the Riverwalk shopping and dining area and the George P. Coleman Bridge, , the Watermen’s Museum is the perfect addition to your Historic Triangle visit.
Our mission is to demonstrate the role Chesapeake Bay Watermen, from pre-colonial to modern times, have played in the shaping of our nation. We provide historical exhibits depicting military and civilian water craft and activities, crafts and methods of their trade, and a look into the lives of the people that have worked and fought on the water.
The Watermen’s Museum offers school and civic groups 11 different educational field trips and we conduct summer children’s programs in topics such as: Archaeology, Boatbuilding, Environmental Explorer, and Pirate Life( Really maritime life and environmental education wrapped up in a Hollywood-style pirate them to ensure the little ones enjoy learning.
We also have a volunteer team that operates our Chesapeake Bay boat building program, constructing and refurbishing boats in our Boat Shop, and a boat modeler that works in our main gallery. During events, we often demonstrate activities such as metal forging and blacksmithing, glass artwork and bottle making, pottery, and many more.
With nearly 7,000 items in stock, our great little Gift Shop carries a variety of nautically-themed jewelry, books, T-shirts, hats, home and office décor and much more. The Museum also offers rentals of its Carriage House, Events Tent and Deck, and our private Beachfront for corporate and private special events, weddings and receptions.
We’ve annually been voted Peninsula Gold and Silver for our Summer Camps by Coastal Virginia Magazine for many years, 2018 Best Small Museum by Chesapeake Bay Magazine, and 2019 and 2020 Best Wedding Venue by Virginia Living Magazine, 2021 Best Community Museum in Virginia by Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Come by for a visit, browse our site, or contact us for more details on any of our program and rental offerings.
To learn more about us before you visit, watch this YouTube Video About Our Museum (Courtesy WMBG Radio) or this YouTube Showing some Interior Exhibits (Courtesy WMBG Radio)
And, If you are fortunate enough to arrive at the right time, you could see a ship-to-shore cannon battle like this Schooners and Land Battery Exchange Fire (Courtesy York River Sailing Charters)
Phone Number: 757-887-2641
Email: admin@watermens.org
We Are located at 309 Water Street in Yorktown VA
Hours of Operation
Closed December 23 through Late March. We re-open seasonally on the first Tuesday following April 1st.
OPEN: Early April through December 23 each year.
Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 1 PM – 5 PM, Closed Mondays (Except some Monday Holidays)
December 23, 2023 through April 2, 2024 Closed – Except for Special Events and Scheduled Tours
Museum Location: 309 Water Street, Yorktown Virginia
Museum Admission
, Active Duty Military Members, Current First Responders, and Current School Teachers – are FREE!
Young Adults – $5
Senior Adults (62+) and Students – $4
Groups of 10 or more – $4
Under 6 – Free