Newport News Schedule of Events
WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2012
Sea and Air Parade- The Sea and Air Parade of Sail is a new event for OpSail 2012 Virginia™. It will include the International fleet of naval vessels as well as waterborne and air assets from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers and other government and private organizations. The Parade will highlight the importance of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and other Sea Services within our community while showcasing the Port of Virginia to our International guests. Details for the event are still being finalized, but the route will include the Parade passing through the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at Cape Henry, through Thimble Shoals Channel via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, past Fort Monroe in Hampton, and into downtown Norfolk along the Elizabeth River. The first ships will pass Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk at noon on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Viewing from Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth. For more information, visit Parade of Sail Information.
FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2012
OpSail 2012 Virginia™ Parade of Sail- The International fleet of tall ships will begin arriving on Thursday, June 7, 2012. They will anchor in Lynnhaven Roads, just north of the John A. Lesner Bridge on the Virginia Beach waterfront. The Parade of Sail will begin at 7AM on the morning of Friday, June 8, 2012. The fleet will parade from the Lynnhaven Roads anchorage through Thimble Shoals Channel, past the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (between Trestles A and B) and past Fort Monroe in Hampton. From there, the ships will move through Hampton Roads and up the Elizabeth River to downtown Norfolk. The first ships in the Parade will reach Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk at noon on Friday, June 8, 2012. Ships will then proceed to their docks in downtown Norfolk, or in other Affiliate Ports, before opening to the public for tours. Viewing locations in Virginia Beach, Eastern Shore, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. For general parade updates, visit Parade of Sail Information.
TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2012
Parade of Sail Up the Chesapeake- A new event for OpSail 2012 Virginia™! As the fleet of tall ships depart, they will proceed in formation out of the Elizabeth River, past Fort Monroe in Hampton and turn northward in the Chesapeake Bay towards their next port of call in Baltimore, MD. The fleet will maintain a speed of six knots, passing Smith Point at the mouth of the Potomac River around sunset (about 9PM) on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Recreational boaters, yacht clubs and charter vessels are encouraged to participate in the Parade by sailing alongside the fleet as they make their way northward. This will offer a unique opportunity to see the tall ships in their natural environment - at sea. Boaters are encouraged to check this website regularly to learn more about the Parade and look for informational brochures on small boat safety and navigational restrictions specific to OpSail 2012 Virginia™. Viewing locations in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck, Eastern Shore. For more information, visit Parade of Sail Information.
War of 1812 Exhibits in Newport News
The Mariners' Museum For over seventy-five years, the history of the ocean and its relationship with humankind has been told and displayed in one of the largest maritime museums in the world. The museum features a War of 1812 display which includes paintings, weaponry, and a full-scale replica of the hull of a 19th century sailing ship.
100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606. Admission Fee Applies, 757- 596-2222. http://www.marinersmuseum.org
Virginia Living Museum Our state’s natural heritage is the star at the Virginia Living Museum. It is here that visitors today can see the same native animals and plants those who fought in the War of 1812 might have seen: red wolves, bald eagles, loggerhead sea turtles, fish, frogs and more! Living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea, including a cypress swamp and a mountain cove.
524 J. Clyde Morris Blv. (Exit 258A from I-64), Newport News, VA 23601. Admission Fee Applies, (757)595-1900. www.thevlm.org.
Virginia War Museum
The War of 1812 exhibit tells the story of the second American Revolution through artifacts and art work. See the uniform of Moses Myers, who raised a local militia, along with swords, muskets, and other military items that relate to the soldier. A large painting entitled “The Battle of Lake Erie” provides a colorful depiction of that famous battle. Model lovers will enjoy the USS CHESAPEAKE ship, reportedly made of wood from the original frigate.
9825 Warwick Boulevard. Newport News, VA 23607, (757)247-8523, www.warmuseum.org. Admission fee applies.
