Nauticus
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| Established | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Location | One Waterside Drive Norfolk, Virginia United States |
| Type | Maritime |
| Website | Nauticus |
Nauticusis a maritime-themedscience centerandmuseumlocated on the downtown waterfront inNorfolk, Virginia,also known as theNational Maritime Center.
History
[edit]Nauticus was incorporated under the National Maritime Center Authority in February 1988. The following month,Rear AdmiralJackson Knowles Parker, retired commander ofNorfolk Naval Base,became the founding executive director.
Construction began at the former site of Norfolk'sBanana Pieron the downtown Norfolk waterfront in February 1992, and Nauticus opened to the public in June 1994. Othervisitor attractionsnearby include theVirginia Zoo,Norfolk Scope,andHarbor Park,home to theNorfolk Tides.
Campus
[edit]Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center
[edit]
The City of Norfolk opened the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center located at Nauticus on April 7, 2007.
The 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2), passenger-friendly facility features views of theElizabeth River;an enclosed, elevated passenger gangway; a retractable bridge leading into a 16-slipmarina;aterrazzofloor tile in the entrance; a separate lounge and check-in area for cruise line VIP passengers; a security-focused Customs and Border Protection area and an embarkation station. Its first passenger ship, RCI'sEmpress of the Seas,arrived on April 28, 2007.
The Half Moone also serves as an event venue with approximately 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) of event spaces, each of which include interpretation and exhibits. Among the areas available for special event rental are the Bermuda Room, which displays artifacts and objects that tell the historic connections between Virginia andBermuda;the Half Moone Vista, which includes some facts about the original fort; and the Lido and Promenade Decks, which address functions of those traditional decks on boardcruise ships.
The name—Half Moone—is taken from the name of the fort that was built on the same site in 1673 in the form of a "half moone." The fort was built to protect Norfolk's burgeoning maritime industry.[1]
Following theFrancis Scott Key Bridge collapsein April 2024,Carnival Legendwas rerouted to Norfolk, docking at Half Moone.
USSWisconsin
[edit]One of the largestbattleshipsever built arrived at Nauticus on the downtown Norfolk waterfront on December 7, 2000. That date was significant because it marked the 57th anniversary of USSWisconsin'slaunchingin 1943 – two years to the day after theattack on Pearl Harbor.
USSWisconsinopened formain decktours on April 16, 2001. That date marked the 57th anniversary of the ship's commissioning in 1944.
Wisconsin,one of fourIowa-classbattleships constructed by theUnited States Navy,was built from 1941 to 1943 at thePhiladelphia Navy Yardandcommissionedin 1944. She played a major role in World War II, earning fivebattle starsfor service against Japanese forces. She served during theKorean War,and led the Navy’s surface attack on Iraq during the PersianGulf Warin 1991, firing not only her first but also the campaign's firstTomahawk missile.The ship wasdecommissionedatPhiladelphiaand retired to the Naval Inactive Reserve Fleet inPortsmouth, Virginia,in October 1996.
On April 16, 2010, exactly 66 years from the day she was commissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the United States Navy ceremoniously transferred ownership of the vessel to the city of Norfolk, Virginia.Vice AdmiralDavid Architzeljoined MayorPaul Fraim,other city and military leaders, and former crew members on deck to conduct the ceremony. Vice Admiral Architzel presented the long glass to Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim signifying that the Mayor now has the watch.
By the end of November 2009, more than 2,495,296 visitors have walked theteakdecks ofWisconsin.These visitors have come from all fifty U.S. states and from many other nations to experience the battleship.[2]
Sail Nauticus
[edit]
Sail Nauticus is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created by the Nauticus Foundation in 2013. Sail Nauticus is a community sailing center, with both adult and youth programs. Its cornerstone program is the Sail Nauticus Academy, an after-school program in partnership with Norfolk Public Schools that teaches middle school students sailing and maritime sciences from a STEM perspective.
Exhibits
[edit]The museum features hands-on exhibits, interactive theaters,aquaria,digital high-definition films and an extensive variety of educational programs. Nauticus has a high-definition large screen theater, named The Broke Theater, and shows several nautically-related films on a rotating basis.
On the third floor, Nauticus opened a new exhibit in May 2023 called Norfolk in Time. It is designed to "weaving stories of history, culture, science, technology and industry to showcase Norfolk’s unique resiliency in the face of continual challenge and change."[3]Also on the third floor, Nauticus has an exhibit that opened in June 2023 calledAquaticus,which is aimed at younger visitors.Aquaticusincludes a large play place with a slide. The Nautical Neighborhood Aquarium is also located on the third floor.
The rest of the third floor at Nauticus will also be redesigned as part of Nauticus' transformation capital campaign, Reimagine Nauticus.
The second floor of Nauticus houses theHampton Roads Naval Museumand the entrance to the battleshipWisconsin.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Tucker, George Holbert."The" Half Moone "Fort".Norfolk Highlights 1584 - 1881.Retrieved3 June2011.
- ^"Good-bye Mr. Ships: Hampton Roads Naval Museum Bids a Fond Farewell to the USS Wisconsin".
- ^"Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin".Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin.Retrieved2024-04-16.
External links
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