Ferry Plantation House is an old mansion built in 1830, on the same location where the Walke Manor house stood before it was burnt down. Before Walke Manor the third Princess Anne Courthouse was built there in 1735. Currently Ferry Plantation House is a museum, it offers educational tours for school children tutoring them about the life of people during 18th and 19th Century. The museum has artifacts from the period and the estate also has special events scheduled for children and adults in its premises.
St. Luke's Church is a monolithic Goth-style church that was built in the year 1632. It is known as one of the oldest surviving churches in the country. Today the church operates as a museum. It features an interesting collection of ancient period furniture, 17th-century artifacts and the old organ. The church cemetery also makes for interesting viewing. Hourly tours take you back in time as you enjoy the exquisite intricacies of beautiful colonial architecture and the unique relics on display.
The Hermitage Foundation Museum holds the Sloan art collection that includes pieces collected from across the world. The Chinese tomb figures and pieces from Czar Alexander's collection are particularly striking pieces. The museum also conducts art classes and holds workshops. Surrounded by 12 acres of well planned gardens, the Hermitage Foundation Gardens are a particularly picturesque. The gift shop sells creations of local artisans and designers.
Part of the Nauticus Maritime Center, the USS Wisconsin came to Norfolk in 2000. The ship is over 60 years old, first launched in 1943, and is one of the largest battleships ever built by the US Navy. Children and history buffs especially love it, and docents are placed in various spots on board to answer any questions about the ship's colorful history.
The Norfolk Botanical Gardens offer many different signature and theme gardens for guests to stroll around, such as the Virginia Native Plant Garden, the Bristow Butterfly Garden and the Enchanted Forest. In addition to the numerous beautiful gardens, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens also put on special events and exhibits. Among these are bike nights, sculpture exhibits and guided tours of the gardens.
Francis Land House is a historic plantation home that displays period furniture, objects and collections from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Guided tours are also on offer. Call for details.