Visitors to the island will likely find themselves in this museum as it's one of the few tangible…read morethings to do. It is a large shotgun house which has been repurposed for this use. There is a small admission charge, but they do take all major cards. The short movie that they play is a little schmaltzy, but it does have some interesting moments. The movie and the exhibits both mention the decline of the island, but stay oddly silent on all the controversy surrounding sea walls and dredging and sea levels. The exhibits are highly specific and contain a lot of primary source documents. It is not generic material by any means and is worth perusing. Given that the museum is close to the dock, I suspect a common pattern for many will be to travel the island and then check out the museum on the way back, which worked out fine for me.

We didn't think a tiny island museum like this would be much to look at... we were wrong! Since…read morethere's little to do here, the museum offers a perfect snapshot of life in Tangier and shouldn't be missed! Whether you come by bike, golf cart, or stroll here as we did, this museum is just a hop, skip and a jump from the cruise pier. Located on the marshy outskirts of the bay, this is a really well thought out and planned space full of interesting displays. This secluded island is somewhat of an enigma and the museum explains much of the history and mystery surrounding this fascinating floating village. The quaint cottage styled building is inviting bedecked with cool concrete crab chairs and a checkerboard table. Inside, we were greeting by two sweet ladies who gave us some highlights to see! We paid the nominal fee of $3 and made sure we also donated a few dollars in the box for upkeep and restoration. It was refreshing to see that this museum, being one of the few tourist attractions on the island, didn't try to gouge their visitors. We took our time exploring each exhibit which included some War history, the Indians who once occupied the island, Captain John Smith's role in Tangier history, boating and crabbing displays, artifacts, maps, newspaper clippings, artwork, photos, models, and more. We sat and enjoyed the video describing the struggles on the island, the challenging lifestyle here, and the fisherman who love it and strive to keep it afloat! The moving footage on the video not only depicts the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay, and the abundant water life and wildlife seen here, but it also shows interviews of some of the folks that live and work on the island. One local Tangier waterman is quoted saying, "It is not an easy way of life. In fact, it is a true labor of love..." The restrooms were clean and tidy. But cell service can be a struggle here on the island so you'll have a chance to really connect with the relaxed vibe and friendly people around you! The gift shop had some cool postcards, trinkets, jewelry and a great selection of books. We purchased the one about Tangier's history and I can't wait to delve into it. For lover's of Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay, quirky small towns, history buffs or just curious tourists, all you need to know about Tangier Island can be discovered here!

What a little treasure! Perfect stop with young children. My daughter had a blast. We spent a good…read morehour here. We enjoyed the otter show and the exhibits. My preschooler loved the scavenger hunt. The people working were very nice.

The otters are fun to see and learn about. The staff is so friendly and helpful. I wish I lived…read morecloser!

The Museum of Chincoteague Island is a nice stop for the history of the island area. They take…read moregreat pride in sharing what they are doing the the wild ponies. It's not very large and they have a few interactive displays, it is great for children because they will be able to get through the museum

Cute museum, but my kids weren't too interested (5 and 1). There were some hands on items that they…read moreliked for a minute or two lol. It definitely has a lot of information in it and it's connected to a gift shop.

A hidden gem! Friendly, knowledgeable staff, excellent exhibits, great kid section on the top…read morefloor, neat options in the gift shop. All with no admissions fee!

What a well done museum in an unexpected place!! We were looking for a day trip from our home in…read moreNorfolk and saw this one on TripAdvisor. Since it is only about 20 miles from the bridge tunnel up the shore (one of my favorite places on earth!), we decided to check it out. SO glad we did! And since admission is free, it made the bridge tunnel toll worth it! When you walk in you are greeted by the most friendly docent who gives you a brief background of the museum and what it's about. She told us they have several films and asked if we wanted to watch any of them. We did - "Our Island Home" gives you a terrific view of what life on Hog Island was like before it was abandoned from people who were actually born there. After whatever movie(s) you want to watch, you are "free range" to explore the museum. It is SO well done. I could have roamed around for longer than the 2 hours we were there (but I'm a museum reader - I have to check out everything!). Definitely allow yourself a couple of hours to explore. The exhibits are fantastic and laid out well. All artifacts were donated or on loan from actual island families - they don't purchase their artifacts. I like that. Shows the love for the community that these people have. Definitely check out the attic! There are hands on things for the kids - it's hot up there in the summer though! I was fascinated by the twisted chimney (not going to tell you why it was built that way - you'll have to go find out for yourself!). This is a GREAT little stop if you are looking for something cool to do on your way up or down Rt. 13 on your way to your vacation or a great day trip from the VA Beach area. With all their many activities and programs, we will definitely be back!

Cute little museum! The best part are the otters, you can see them swimming around and they are…read morepretty active. They also have some other aquatic life like turtles and fish that are cool. You can spend a hour or two in here if you wanted to

Location Just off the highway…read more Parking Large lot Tour Children's area, frog and fish area, the history of the area-boats, wildlife, and MORE! Lighthouse in the back- refurbished and furnished. Guides provide additional information. Summary Informative introduction to the area. Loved it!!

To start the young man at the front desk was very welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable. The…read moregrounds outside were well kept and extremely clean. Closed toed shoes for walking around the park is a must, I went unprepared with flip flops. The restrooms inside were also clean. There's a gift shop and a library as well. The exhibit was very well done and I absolutely loved how interactive it was, it's also handicap accessible and self guided! I definitely recommend checking out the wildlife drive across the street at blackwater refuge, we saw the statue of Harriet Tubman catching a muskrat to then seeing one at the refuge!

Beautifully done. This National Historical Park is well maintained and full of interactive…read moreexhibits. The space is handicap accessible and most exhibits include easy to read fonts and braille. I would definitely recommend this educational experience to learners of all ages.

Located on the 2nd floor of a gift/shell shop. Free. Some parking in front…read more Glass cases of many found items, from different shipwrecks. Just enough to keep my attention and interest (but not for everybody, so I sent part of our group ahead to check out the shop downstairs).

What an amazing Surprise!!!!! ABSOLUTELY WELL WORTH SEEING. My daughter and I happened to find…read morethis beautiful museum. Ming China and gold. Thank you so much for showing us around and giving my little girl and I a memory we won't forget. Laura Jean Heizer and audryanna laurajeanheizer55@gmail.com

Great stories and entertaining tour guide! We enjoyed the walk and details, I would do another one!read more

We are from Baltimore and went to St. Michael's for Labor Day Weekend. We signed up for the ghost…read moretour on Friday evening and it was great! We talked about the stuff we had learned all weekend! Keep up the tours - they really add a fun twist to all that St. Michael's has to offer! Tina Marie

Absolutely love this one! I was in the area and had an hour before I needed to hit the road... I…read morewas late hitting the road! There is so much to see you cannot possibly see it all in an hour. There are a ton of aircraft displays, engines, and even a few videos. A good mixture of indoor and outdoor displays. Wear comfortable shoes so you can walk around a lot. I am a history buff, and was stationed at NAS PAX in the 1980's so I was very interested in all the historical information the museum presented. I WILL be back!

My wife and I took a Saturday drive and ended up at the museum mid-afternoon. Approaching the…read moremuseum, we saw all the aircraft parked outside on their ramp. A bonus for EV drivers is their onsite fast charger. Driving here from NoVA, we could use the charge. Admission to the museum is $10 per person. There are a couple of displays inside along with a gift shop. We quickly headed outside though to check out the aircraft. My wife's favorite was the A4 Scooter with its skinny head-on profile and Blue Angels heritage. My favorite was the Osprey. I had no idea the rotors were that large on it. We took a lap inside the gift shop before heading back on the highway with a full charge. We spent about 90 minutes checking out all the aircraft there and enjoyed our visit.