Museums and History in Virginia Beach

Since the first English settlers arrived on our shores in 1607, in what is now known as First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach has provided the setting for countless historic events — and the home for a variety of important individuals, from founding fathers to legendary musicians.

In fact, the area has a rich history dating back hundreds and even thousands of years before English settlement, with several Indigenous tribes living in the region, including the Chesepian or Chesapeake people, along with related Powhatan tribes. The Nansemond Indian Nation, whose ancestral lands are in and near what is now the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, has loaned artifacts which are currently exhibited in the refuge’s visitor center.

At the many museums and historical sites of Virginia Beach, you’ll step back in time to the hits of the fabulous 50s, the fighting machines of World War II and, of course, the rich heritage of the pre-colonial and colonial eras. It’s all fascinating, and the foundation for the fabulous modern city we are today.