Education

Education ProgramsEmphasis on Education

Education is a primary focus of the Hampton History Museum. The staff continues to cooperate with Hampton city schools to enhance the division’s social studies curriculum with outreach and field trip programs. The museum has developed these offerings with input from administrators and teachers so the experiences will be in line with the Virginia Standards of Learning and incorporate teaching techniques and themes that are emphasized by the division.

Additional Programs

In addition to school programs, the staff provides activities for Girl and Boy Scouts, after school programs, and summer camps, along with workshops and seminars aimed at adult audiences.

History Explorer Trunks

Throughout the year, we offer tours and workshops on a variety of subjects geared toward various age groups and interests. Perhaps you can’t get away to the museum. We will send materials to you. You may borrow one of our traveling trunks for up to two weeks for free. The trunks include background information on each topic, replica artifacts, worksheets and activities for students, and SOL-based lesson plans for you to use. The trunks are perfect for classrooms, after-school programs, homeschoolers, churches, scouts, and other groups. We are offering trunks for the following topics:

  • Powhatan Indians
  • Revolutionary War
  • Civil War
  • Civil Rights

More information on the program

Reserve a Traveling Trunk

Traveling Exhibits

Hampton’s history is America’s story, and we have condensed some of the most powerful chapters from the city’s past to share with the public through a series of pop-up exhibits. These vibrant displays are perfect for schools, libraries, churches and other groups and organizations. More information.

1619 Traveling Exhibit 1619 Traveling Exhibit

In commemoration of the 1619 arrival of the first Africans in English North America, the Hampton History Museum has two pop-up versions of its exhibit "1619: Arrival of the First Africans" available for community groups, schools, churches, libraries, events, and other uses.

Give Me Liberty Give Me Liberty

This exhibit explores the lives of more than 30 fugitive slaves from Hampton who made journeys to freedom or took up arms against their enslavers during periods of war, from the Black Loyalists of the Revolutionary War to the Contrabands of the Civil War.

Toward Freedom Toward Freedom

"Toward Freedom: Hampton and the Contraband" tells the story of the men, women, and children who escaped slavery to seek the possibility of freedom at Fort Monroe. It explores critical questions surrounding slavery and the individuals who changed the world by their actions just one month into the American Civil War.

NASA's Human Computers NASA's Human Computers

The NASA exhibit explores the history and personalities brought to light in the hit film and best-selling book “Hidden Figures.” The display features three of these pioneers: Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson.

Group Tours and Workshops

The museum offers group tours for a fee. 

$5/person    Standard Admission Fee       9 visitors or less
$3/person    Group Admission Fee         10 visitors or more
$4/person    Workshop             $84 minimum
$7/person    Workshop and Tour Fee    $84 minimum

To book a tour or, if you have any questions about tours, group tours, workshops or any other educational programming at the Hampton History Museum please contact the Museum Educator, Kris Peters at kmpeters@hampton.gov or 757-727-6838.

Detailed information about group tours

Educational Videos

We also offer a variety of engaging and educational videos on the Hampton History Museum YouTube page, including information on exhibits, behind the scenes tours of artifacts, event recordings, lectures, and more. 

Click here to watch, like, and subscribe to our page.