The Children's Museum of Virginia is the largest children's museum in the state of Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

. It is located in the heart of Olde Town Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...

 at 221 High Street.
The Children's Museum of Virginia highlights:

• Life size tug boat for children to play with
• Bubble play area
• Life size house
• Lancaster train area for the little ones to play with trains
• An exhibit that allows children to learn how food goes from farm to house

History

The museum first opened in December 1980 when the Lancaster’s donated their personal collection of 5000 toys and trains, lovingly collected for more than forty years. The museum was born in the basement of the Portsmouth library. In 1984 the size of the museum doubled and moved to 1846 Courthouse on the corner of High and Court Streets. At the museums 18th birthday it moved to the 221 location on high street where it is today.

Renovations

• 1998- Renovations were made by adding over 30+ interactive exhibits, 63000 square feet (5,852.9 m²) and re-arranging the Lancaster Train Set.
• 2009- The entire building was gutted to make a more new, modern museum. Adding all new exhibits and adding over 9000 square feet (836.1 m²) to the existing building.

Update

The museum closed in September 2009 to begin work on the renovations. While the museum is closed a temporary location called Andalo’s Clubhouse, has been set up in the old museum office space located at 420 High St. The temporary location is best location for the temporary exhibit housing because its small area and basic exhibits was well suited for young children.