Exhibits at the Children's Museum of Virginia
So much to see, so much to do. The Children's Museum of Virginia is a feast for young eyes, ears, minds, and imaginations. We've highlighted just a few of the many, many fun things you'll find here, so dig in... then come visit us and see it all for yourself!
The Lancaster Antique Toy & Train Collection
If you like trains, this'll stoke your firebox. Our Lancaster Antique Toy & Train Collection, among the world's finest, features four working layouts and thousands of engines and cars in a variety of scales.
Bubbles
Stretch a Bubble • Volume • Step Into a Bubble • Bubble Table
The Bubble Room is a guaranteed instant favorite. Experiment with different tools and techniques to make the biggest bubble possible, lots of small bubbles at once... even try a bubble on for size.
Planetarium
For entertainment, not even the sky is the limit. Explore the universe and other fascinating subjects in our state-of-the-art planetarium, featuring star-studded performances daily.
The City
Police Motorcycle • Fire Engine • City Bus • High Street Market • TowneBank • Mail Box • Parking Meter • Olde Towne Clinic • Traffic Light
A kid's imagination is an amazing thing. The City is filled with fun props and real vehicles that shift those imaginations into overdrive.
Art Moves
Light Strokes • Aerobic Sound • Harmonograph • Moire Patterns • Peg Board • Recollections • Wavy Colors
The "Harmonograph" makes a cool, poster-sized drawing that you can keep — but how it turns out depends on how you set it in motion.
"Recollections" turns your motions into a swirl of colors and shapes... an aerobic workout that's also a work of art!
Block Buster
Crane Command • Building Blocks • Small Blocks
Put on your hard hat, because there's a rookie working the crane – you!
Hocus Focus
Pattern Talk • Puzzle Place • Star Trace • Walk-in Kaleidoscope
Play Space
Climb and Slide • Crawl Canal • Puppets • Quiet Space • Raft
You & Me
Everyone is You and Me • Expressions • Traits
Everybody
Balance • Pull Yourself Up • Body Works • Flexibility • Height Checker
Reaction Time • You Are As Wide As You Are Tall
Displays like this one aren't just fun, they also help you learn the ropes in the world of science. Computer games and interactive exhibits galore will test your knowledge, tease your brain, and even time your reflexes.
Norfolk SPCA Exhibition
Want to know the best way to hold a puppy? Learn how to be a good pet owner and just have fun in the Pet Park. The first collaborative exhibit between the Norfolk SPCA and The Children's Museum of Virginia, the Pet Park offers a gazebo for reading books about animals, a plasma screen TV showing pet care tips, photo opportunities with animal face cutouts plus much more.
Science Circus
Rock Climb • Bernoulli Blower • Probability • Raceways • Tower of Power
It looks like magic, but it's really science. You'll have a ball with this and lots of other fun phenomena.
The Sounds Around
Sound Tracks • Simple Sonar • WCMV (Sound Studio) • Big Band • Vibraphone • Big Tuning Fork • Gaussian Melody
Everyone knows that secrets travel fast — but never quite like this! "Simple Sonar" demonstrates sound wave dynamics with just a whisper. Giant musical instruments, air bongo drums, and other playful surprises create a place that kids can delight in.
The Eyes Have It
Seymore Fun • Air Cannon • Newton's Cradle • Light Blender • Shadow Theater • Freeze Frame • Ball Maze • Touch Plane
Elementary School
Vortex • Geology Dig • Riverscape • Dump Waiter
Exhibits like this one — which shows why it's important to keep our recycling efforts cranking – are so much fun, kids won't realize how much they are learning.