Hampton History Museum - The Galleries

The Galleries The new Hampton History Museum includes nine permanent galleries arranged in chronological order showing the 400 years of development of the city and surrounding areas as the oldest continuous English-speaking settlement in America. Artifacts drawn from the city's extensive collection highlight the diverse contributions of the early villages through the emergence of the modern city as a center of air and space research. An interesting twist to Hampton's history is it's strong parallels to American history so that it is relevant to people from all over the United States. Move your mouse pointer over the image to see a bigger version.
	The Orientation Room displays quotes from noted individuals that focus on the various eras of Hampton's rich history.
	The Kecoughtan Gallery emphasizes the interaction of the Indians with their environment. Original and reproduction artifacts include tools made from bone, antler, and reeds while the texts describe deerskin clothing, houses of saplings and reed mats, and log canoes used on the many waterways.
	The Seventeenth Century Gallery begins with the coming of the Englishmen sent by the Virginia Company in 1607. The early interactions of the Europeans and Native Americans are outlined with the rise of the tobacco culture, the arrival of the first Africans in 1619, and the growth of the town as a trading center.
	Moving from the seventeenth century in to the eighteenth, visitors pass through a ship's hold which depicts the development of a thriving Port Hampton where blacks and whites, free and in servitude, worked beside each other on ships and in the nearby fields. One side of the hold is stacked with reproduction containers and original artifacts that would have been imported, while hogshead barrels sit on the other side to illustrate tobacco, the port's chief export and medium of exchange.
	Entering the Eighteenth Century Gallery, visitors come face to face with the head of a nemesis of Hampton trade, Blackbeard the Pirate. This gallery also shows domestic life and occupations of the 1700's as well as Hampton's role in the American Revolution.
	Continuing on, visitors move into the Antebellum Gallery featuring a collection of local portraits and clothing of the period. Life in Hampton is depicted from the War of 1812 to the eve of the Civil War.
	Visitors now enter the Civil War Gallery, where dimly lit ruins represent Hampton after it was burned by Confederates in 1861. The exhibits illustrate the Battle of Big Bethel, the importance of Fort Monroe, and the many military camps and hospitals in the area. Displays explain how Union General Benjamin Butler first applied the term "contraband" to three runaway slaves thereby establishing an avenue to freedom for African Americans throughout the South. The gallery also highlights the founding of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and local life during Reconstruction.
	Moving into the Late Nineteenth Century visitors encounter images and artifacts of the seafood industry and resort facilities that revived Hampton after the Civil War. Photographs from Cheyne's Studio are featured in an alcove of this gallery. Visitors will enjoy seeing a glimpse into Hampton's past.
	Finally visitors enjoy the more familiar artifacts of the Modern Hampton Gallery such as a cheerleader's megaphone, children's toys, and a wedding dress made from a World War II parachute. Visitors can then pause to earn a diploma by taking a computerized quiz that reviews their knowledge of the history of the little town on the bay that so mirrors the history of our country. Also on display are items from Langley Field and NACA, the predecessor of NASA.
A visit to the second floor Changing Gallery allows patrons to explore a variety of temporary exhibits.