Christmas Eve 100 Years Ago

In this print by naval constructor and noted artist T. Dart Walker, the wardroom of the battleship USS Kansas (BB-21)makes a toast to love ones back home during the 1908 Christmas Eve dinner. The battleship was in the Arabian Sea en route to Egypt during the around the world cruise of the Great White Fleet.

Museum Awarded AAM Accreditation

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum was awarded the field’s highest seal of approval, accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The museum is in august company. There are an estimated 17,500 museums in this nation, and approximately 5% are accredited. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum and Chrysler Museum of Art are the only museums in Southside Hampton Roads to receive this honor from the American Association of Museums. The Norfolk Botanical Gardens was reaccredited over the summer.

Accreditation status is only bestowed upon the most distinguished museums. The status brings national recognition to museums, reflecting their commitment to excellence, accountability and high professional standards. It is a rigorous process involving a major investment of time and resources from all levels of the museum’s organization. The accreditation process consists of seven steps and can take three to four years to complete.

The accrediting committee found the museum to be an excellent example of a military museum collaborating, and developing good relationships, with its local community. Museum Director Becky Poulliot states: “This is tremendous news for our museum staff and volunteers, the museum’s foundation board, and U.S. Navy leadership at the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, D.C. Peer recognition in the form of accreditation represents the culmination of years of preparation and hard work. Our staff members and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum as an institution are better for having gone through the process, and we plan to use what we’ve learned by offering even more programs and exhibits to the public.”

Operation Holiday Cheer 2008

FAMILY FUN AT HRNM!

During the month of November, the education department at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum held its annual Operation Holiday Cheer. Museum patrons made over 200 holiday cards for sailors on theaircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) currently deployed in the Middle East. The kids that made the cards had a great time! Here is a sample of some of the cards we are sending!

Thank you for all your service!

- HRNM Education Department

Calling Card of USS New York (ACR-2)

This is a "calling card" produced by the sailors of the Norfolk-based armored cruiser USS New York (ACR-2) during the Spanish-American War. "Sampson" refers to Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, nominal commanding officer of the North Atlantic Squadron.

Fly Navy! Three Years Before Ely

We are rapidly approaching the 100th anniversary of Eugene Ely's historic flight of the deck of the cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-2) that occurred here in Hampton Roads. The flight was the first successful attempt to fly a plane off of a ship. That is not say there weren't others who tried.

During the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, there was a small and largely unappreciated group of engineers and entrepreneurs who wanted to show off the wonders of flight. In this picture is one of those men,"aeronaut" A.G. Mass. Mass and his flying machine are next to the armored cruiser USS Brooklyn (ACR-3) during the Exposition. Mass' plane was not powered and had to be pulled by a torpedo boat doing flank speed in order to achieve take off. Unfortunately, Mass' contraption fell apart and swamped during the attempt. Mass' supervisor, Isarel Ludlow, was not discouraged by the attempt and only commented "Sooner or later, these problems will be solved."