Description
The Virginia Living Museum, its pond, forest, and grounds offer a chance to see 200 different species of native wildlife. Visitors can get up close to photograph and view wildlife in the wild or in the museum’s exhibits. Exhibits allow close-up views of Bald Eagle, bobcat, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, otter, and beaver, to name a few. The Museum’s natural habitat attracts warblers, woodland birds, waterfowl, Osprey, and more according to the season. The Living Museum features a native wildlife park, aquariums, living natural history exhibits, planetarium, observatory, indoor and outdoor aviaries, children’s learning garden, outdoor classroom, boardwalk at the pond’s edge, easy-to-walk woodland trail, backyard habitat display, and native botanical garden.
Wildlife Sightings
101 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Virginia Living Museum:
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Acadian Flycatcher
- American Crow
- Carolina Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Carolina Wren
- Swainson's Thrush
- American Robin
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 2026 | 14 | Wendy Scott |
| 3 May 2026 | 24 | Jason Strickland |
| 1 May 2026 | 2 | Jason Strickland |
| 25 Apr 2026 | 15 | Jason Strickland |
| 17 Apr 2026 | 11 | Larry Hose |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
- Birdability Report Available
Other Amenities: Interpretive Program/Events
Accessibility Considerations

This location has a Birdability Site Review available
Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces
Maps & Directions
Physical Address: 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601
From I-64, exit onto US-17 S/J Clyde Morris Blvd, continue straight onto Avenue of the Arts/J Clyde Morris Blvd, turn left onto Deer Park Entrance and follow it to the parking area.
Site Information
Managed By:
- City of Newport News
Access Requirements:
- Fee, Daily
Contact Information:
- Phone: 757-595-1900
- Email: reservations@thevlm.org
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.

