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Your Visit
View endangered red wolves. Get up close to sharks and jellyfish. See fish with no eyes and frogs that change colors. Touch live horseshoe crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. It’s all at the Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, where living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. The Museum introduces visitors to more than 250 living species native to Virginia through exhibits, discovery centers and interactive hands-on exhibits.
The Virginia Living Museum is a public non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (54-6055922) whose mission is connecting people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation.
Hours
Daily 9am to 5pm
Outdoor areas close at 4:30pm
Closed
Thanksgiving, December 24, 25, January 1
NEW: TIMED ADMISSION TICKETS
In order to provide the best guest experience, the museum now offers timed admission.
All guests and members (including ages 2 and under) are encouraged to secure a timed admission ticket in advance. Upon timed arrival, members and guests can enjoy the Museum and grounds at their own pace.
Members and guests who reserve a timed admission ticket in advance will be admitted at that time, non-ticketed members and guests will be accommodated as space is available in a timed admission slot. Daily admission remains free for members. Members reserving admission tickets must do so for all guests, those included on the membership and those not included (paid admissions.)
Changes to timed admission tickets may be made in advance (based on availability) by emailing Ticketinfo@thevlm.org.
Ticket prices:
Members – FREE with valid membership
Adults (ages 13 and above) $19.95 – $23.95
Children (ages 12 and below) $16.95
Reserve Ticket Now!Add a Planetarium Show:
Members – FREE with membership
Non-Members: $4 additional
Add a Planetarium Show to your Visit
Behind The Scenes Tours
| Tour Type | Description | Price | Ticket Link | Notes |
| Aquariums | Special Shark Week tour; Take a tour of the aquariums and learn about how the aquatic animals are cared for. | $20 per non-member, $15 per member | Aquarium Tour Tickets | Guests who attend this tour must be ages 8 and up, tour is not wheelchair accessible. |
| Garden Lovers | Our horticulture experts will take you on a tour of our garden, greenhouse, and plant nursery. | $20 per non-member, $15 per member | Garden Lovers Tour Tickets | Duration is 45 minutes to 1 hour. |
| VIP Living Exhibits | Our Senior Director of Living Exhibits will take you on a tour behind the scenes to learn how the animals are cared for. | $30 per non-member, $25 per member | VIP Living Exhibits Tour Tickets | Duration is 1 hour. |
Location
Parking
FREE parking in our extensive parking lots adjacent to the museum. There is also ample parking for buses in our secondary parking lot (the first parking lot as you enter the museum grounds).
Community Education Program
The Virginia Living Museum Community Education Program allows complimentary admission to the VLM for a one-day educational visit. Requesting organizations must be classified as a non-profit charitable organization and be located within a 60 mile radius of the Museum. Program requests will be considered for either Group Visitation or Individual Passes based on guidelines as funding is available. See guidelines and request procedures.