HRNM Brick-by-Brick Lego Shipbuilding Event: Building CSS Virginia

By Jim Beute

One of the best things that ever happened to my son Andrew and myself was attending the HRNM Lego Shipbuilding event back in 2014. We had a lot of fun, and it started us on a shared hobby that we’ve enjoyed together for eight years now. As our building skills and our pile of bricks have grown over those years, we challenge ourselves to build bigger and better creations for all the different Lego events that we now attend. The time that I’ve spent as a volunteer docent has sparked my interest in the Battle of Hampton Roads, and in the CSS Virginia as well.

Starting with the goal to “Build a big, cool model of CSS Virginia out of Lego for the HRNM Event!”, my first step is to nail down the scope of the model (how big, how cool) within the design constraints (the actual CSS Virginia design), the budget (my pile of bricks), and the project schedule (4 February deadline). The figure below depicts how my little Systems Engineer brain relates these concepts to each other, and the decisions that I reached for this model.

Jim's thoughts about creating his next big Lego build

Bigger is almost always better with Lego models, since it allows greater precision when making constant compromises of scale when building with Lego bricks. Building at minifigure scale (1:42) allows much more interesting models with lots of small plastic human interaction within the model to bring it alive for the audience.

One guiding principle for Lego kits and for my own models is that there should always be some fun or interesting feature that is a pleasant surprise. I have decided to “cut away” the starboard side to show the interior decks and spaces and to have a working engine room with pistons turning the propeller shaft. This decision quadrupled the complexity of the model, but it should significantly increase human interest and interaction with the model.

The decision to build a cut-away interior made it important to find good, detailed plans and drawings of the Virginia. The resources and helpful staff at HRNM, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and the Mariners’ Museum helped me to find the best drawings and books available. Unfortunately, there just aren’t any complete interior drawings for the Virginia, and the available source materials often contradict each other. Carl Park faces this same dilemma in Ironclad Down. To fill in the gaps, he extrapolates from the limited construction drawings by John Porter such as the one shown below, pre-conversion drawings of USS Merrimack, and additional clues from crew memoirs.

This Porter drawing came from a digitized version at Eastern Carolina University (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/4498)

While Carl Park provides the most complete composite sketch of the Virginia interior available, his efforts are more focused on ship construction than operational use. Even his composite makes extensive use of “Compartment Configuration Unknown” throughout the berth deck. Since I must build something there, I’ve put on my old ship’s ballcap and tried to imagine what a feasible arrangement for messing and berthing would be, extrapolating from the same limited sources. The picture below shows what I came up with. I’m sure there are many errors, but in my research, I’ve learned that every model of the Virginia falls back upon the artist’s imagination at some point.

CSS Virginia (Jim Beute)

Over the years, I have also learned to build modularity into the design of larger models. An 8-foot Lego ironclad looks great on the coffee table, but it needs to fit through doors in order to share it with others. I’ve built the Virginia in five easy pieces for transport. The four sections shown below snap together, and the casement then snaps onto the hull.

CSS Virginia in pieces (Jim Beute)

In addition, there is a bin of accessories (cannon, minifigures, etc.) that are then added to complete the scene. Minifigures and motion turn the static model into a historic scene of Civil War mayhem and chaos as shown below. Hopefully that will bring some of this history alive for the kids at the event. Lego doesn’t make Confederate minifigures, but they do make a variety of rebel scum from the Star Wars universe. This keeps the model from being too serious and allows for “find the Wookie” easter eggs that will lead people into spending a lot more time studying the interior of an ironclad than they would otherwise.

Closeup of the interior (Jim Beute)

Building the Virginia was a fun and educational experience for me. Come out to the HRNM Brick-by-Brick Lego Shipbuilding Event on February 4th for a closer look!

Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding—Back in Person in 2023!

By Laura Lawfer Orr
HRNM Director of Education

Building LEGO ships at HRNM's event in 2020 (Photo by Max Lonzanida, HRNM PAO)

Since February 2012, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum has hosted an annual LEGO Shipbuilding event. For the past two years, that event has been virtual—and now, in February 2023, we will be back in person! We’re excited to welcome back our visitors for another free Lego Shipbuilding event. This will be the 11th year we have offered a LEGO Shipbuilding event, and we’re looking forward to many more.

Some of the fun activities include:

• LEGO Shipbuilding contest. If you want to participate in this competition, you can either bring a ship from home to submit in the contest, or you can build on-site with our museum-owned LEGOs. This is great for kids—and adults—of all ages! All entries must be submitted by 2pm and winners will be announced by 3:30pm. Prizes are LEGO gift cards. If bringing a ship from home, please complete this registration form before the event.

Contest entry from 2020's event (Photo by Max Lonzanida, HRNM PAO)

• Build Navy Ships with LEGOs. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum’s staff members have designed 14 Navy ships with LEGOs, all of which are available for you to build on-site using our instructions! The ships are available in easy, medium, hard, and expert difficulty levels. You can view and download some of these instructions on our website.
• LEGO Ship Displays. Built by professional model-builders, come and see our LEGO ships on display! The Hampton Roads Lego User Group (HARDLUG) will be displaying some of their members’ latest creations.
• LEGO Robotics. The First LEGO League will be demonstrating some of their creative builds and how their robotics work. See the amazing creations these students make and learn how to use LEGO robotics yourself.

LEGO free play area at the 2020 event (Photo by Max Lonzanida, HRNM PAO)

• Free-play areas. We’ll have LEGO free play and Duplo free play areas available for fun and creativity! This is where kids can build for the shipbuilding contest, but no contest participation is required to use the free-play areas.
• LEGO Crafts. Design your own LEGO craft keychain; create a LEGO paper bag puppet; or complete LEGO coloring pages—crafts for all ages!
• Sensory Room available for those who need a break from the noise of the event.

When: Saturday, February 4, 2023
10am to 4pm

Where: Half Moone Cruise Terminal
1 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, VA 23510

Cost: Free

Registration: Register for free! Registration is recommended for attendees.

Where do I park in downtown Norfolk? Parking is available in the city garages closest to the cruise terminal (Main Street, Plume Street, City Hall Ave.). Parking will cost $5 and will be pay-on-entry. Cash or credit accepted.

Is there food available? We will have several food trucks on-site with snacks and meals available for purchase. Please plan accordingly!

Note: All LEGOs owned by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum must remain at the event.

Questions? Contact Laura via email at laura.l.orr5.civ@us.navy.mil.

Families work together to build Navy ships with LEGOs (Photo by Max Lonzanida, HRNM PAO)

Seventh-Annual Lego Shipbuilding Day is Twice as Big

By Elijah Palmer
Deputy Education Director, Hampton Roads Naval Museum

We are excited to be hosting our 7th annual Brick by Brick Lego Shipbuilding event at the Decker Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on February 3! This year we are happy to announce that we will have over double the space as the previous years. This has allowed us to expand certain activities and areas.

Some highlights:

• Our ever popular STEM-based Build A Ship areas will have more ships than ever available to construct. There are 16 different designs ranging from Easy to Expert levels. 
• The Lego Shipbuilding competitions (Made at Home, and Made at the Museum), which are divided by age groups for judging. Entries must be submitted by 2 p.m. 
• Free play Lego and Duplo areas. Kids can come play and be creative. 
• Lego robotics will be on hand through the generous support of local groups. 
• A new addition this year is a sensory room (quiet space for those with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder)

For questions or more information, check out our Facebook page, call 757-322-3168 or email elijah.palmer@navy.mil. No need to register--just show up!

Parking is available for $1.50/hour in the city parking garages on Main Street, Plume Street, and City Hall Avenue. 

Brick-By-Brick 2016: The Winners

The entrants' creations for this year's contest were no less varied than those of real vessels taking to the sea from Hampton Roads.  For example, the cruise ship passengers (left) lining the rails of  Jett Starcher's entry could have appeared at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in downtown Norfolk (coincidentally where the event was held), while the two Sailors (right) aboard their MK V Special Operations Craft by Joseph Joiner are an everyday sight at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. (Photo by M.C. Farrington)

On Saturday, 2,081 visitors attended Hampton Roads Naval Museum's Fifth Annual "Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding" event at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Downtown Norfolk.  Over 100 of them entered their ships into the event's shipbuilding contest, which was divided by age classes and by where the models were created.  If the models were made outside the museum using parts provided by the builder, they were judged in the "Home Built" section, while models made between 10 am and 2 pm (the judging deadline) at the event with parts provided by the museum were judged in the "Museum-Made" section.

Category: Home Built

Fan Favorite:

"Brick of the Sea" by Jett Starcher.

After the judging on Saturday, February 6, Jett Starcher begins preparing his entry, dubbed Brick of the Sea, for transport.  According to Starcher, about 200 hours of work went into the model cruise ship, which was constructed not only with a fully detailed bridge and pool deck, but also with ten interior compartments, including a galley and dining room, gym, movie theater, several staterooms, and an engine room. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

Ages 4-6:

Rex and Geoffrey K's model of RMS Titanic looms over the works of other entrants in the four to six year-olds division of the shipbuilding contest (Photo by M.C. Farrington)

                1^st place: "Titanic," by Rex & Geoffrey K.

                2^nd place: "SS Aurora," by Edward B.



As HRNM Volunteer Coordinator Tom Dandes (left) assists William Bassett in preparing the Lego ship Aurora for transport home, his son Edward reacts to his win. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

Ages 7-9:

"Noah's Ark" by William S. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "Noah's Ark," by William S.

                2^nd place: "USS Enterprise," by Keith S.


Ages 10-12:

"Blue Mist" by Luke L. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "Blue Mist," by Luke L.

                2^nd place: "Tonto," by Bow C.

Ages 13-16:

A highly-detailed scale Vietnam-era riverine Command and Communications Boat (CCB) took first place for the 13-16 year-old division. (Photo by M.C. Farrington).  

                1^st place: "CCB Monitor," by Jack K.

                2^nd place: "Skidbadnir," by Nathan C.

Ages 17+:

Another highly-detailed historical model rendered with Legos was this winning Civil War-era diorama by Mark Anderson. (Photo by Diana Gordon)



                1^st place: "Merrimac at Gosport Navy Yard," by Mark Anderson.

                2^nd place: "HM Brig Sophie," by Jack Beute

Category: Museum-Made

Fan Favorite:

"Fisherman's Speed Boat"

Ages 4-6:

                1^st place: "Puller Ship," by Conner B.

                2^nd place: "USA Battleship," by Zac O.

Ages 7-9:

                1^st place: "USS Strouss," by Tristan S.

                2^nd place: "USS Emerson," by Emerson D.

Ages 10-12:

                1^st place: "JC Coast Guard," by Caroline P.

                2^nd place: "USS Virginia 2060"

 Ages 13-16:

                1^st place: "Voyage," by Hode.

                2^nd place: "USS Massachusetts," by Scott E.



Ages 17+:

                1^st place: "USS Dove," by Grace A.
                2^nd place: "Underwater Drone," by Cardell A.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! 

If there are any questions about them or for any other questions relating to the contest, please call Special Events Coordinator Don Darcy at (757) 322-3168.

Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding Education Program

One of our summer volunteers, Breena, helps a child build ships at H.C. Downing Library, June 2015.

For HRNM's education department, the summer months are usually pretty quiet. Visitation increases exponentially and we offer a number of additional activities in the museum, but aside from that, since school is out we don't often do many educational outreach programs during that time. This summer is different, though--we're offering our Lego Shipbuilding program at several branches of the Norfolk Public Library system. The program is open to "school-aged" children and teens, so we have a wide variety of age groups in attendance. Due to this huge gap in ages of the attendees, we've created a less math-intensive version of our middle school-focused Lego education program for the summer. Instead of asking about surface area, fractions, and percentages (concepts that most of our summer program attendees haven't yet learned), the students learn the basics of how ships were built in the 1700s versus how ships are build today--then they get to build the Lego versions of those ships for themselves.

We've done two of these programs already and have three more scheduled this summer. Our next program is this Wednesday at Park Place Library, so we hope to see you there. We'll also be at H.C. Downing Library on July 20 and July 23. Call the libraries to register for this fun, FREE educational event today!

Tara, another summer volunteer, works with a student to build a ship at H.C. Downing Library, June 2015.

We Hope to "Sea" You at the 10th Maritime Heritage Conference - September 2014

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is partnering in a week-long conference of everything maritime. If your interest is naval history, ship history, Coast Guard, or even pirate history, the downtown Norfolk Marriott is the place to be this September 17-20. In addition to several HRNM staff presenters, there will be an array of noted speakers and historians. Nationally-known author, Clive Cussler, will offer the banquet keynote. So check out the links below and register for the conference today!

Principal link: http://www.nauticus.org/maritime/index.html

Registration: http://www.nauticus.org/maritime/registration.html

(Information for this blog post was provided by HRNM Special Events Coordinator Chris Allen-Shinn.)

Navy Video and Board Game Night: A (Retro)spective

Participants play "Top Gun" and "Super Battleship"

Over one hundred guests attended last week's "You Sank My Battleship: Navy Video and Board Game Night" event.  It was the first of two After Hours History programs sponsored by the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation this year.  Unlike previous After Hours events, last Wednesday's game night was the first advertised as "family friendly."  Video game enthusiasts would say it was rated "E" for everyone.  Soda and popcorn replaced the standard assortment of wine and cheese on a night many will not soon forget.

Playing "1942: Joint Strike"

Video games.  Board Games.  Snacks.  Soda.  Where does the U.S. Navy fit in?

Whether we realized it or not, the U.S. Navy was there all along, hidden underneath the blinking lights and sounds of the games we know and love today.  Video games like "Silent Service" and board games like "Axis and Allies" included subtle hints and references to real event in American naval history.  Part of the event included a seven panel exhibit on the history of the U.S. Navy and video games.  We will post the panels shown during the event on this blog soon.

Who would have thought we were learning about key concepts of naval history and naval combat while mashing our thumbs and fingers on plastic controllers.  How to use sonar ("Silent Service").  Plotting enemy ship movements ("Battleship").  How to lead a target while in aerial combat ("Carrier Aces"). How to land on an aircraft carrier ("Top Gun").  The SNES role-playing game "Pacific Theater of Operations" bordered on real historic simulation.  Could you turn the tide and defeat the Japanese Navy at Pearl Harbor?  Even at the juvenile level, the principles were there.  For many young participants in last week's event, the games provided were their first taste of the Navy.

Mayo proudly shows off his contest-winning prize

Guests played a variety of video and board games from yesterday and today.  Titles from the 8-Bit  generation up to today's next-gen consoles ("Battlestations: Midway") were available to play.  Everybody from staff and volunteers to parents cheered on participants as they battled their way through the sky and seas of the digital Atlantic and Pacific.  The most popular game, however, was a retro-classic: "1942."  Nearly every guest ventured to the AEGIS Theater to try their hand at the high score contest for one of the most celebrated and best-selling franchises in video game history.  A special shout out goes to Mark Prinz and Mayo for achieving high scores on "1942."

HRNM Educators helped create several "Navy-centric" modifications of classic board games for the event.  "Human Battleship," a life-size recreation of the pencil and paper game where kids act as the ships on a 100-square foot game board, was a popular destination.  Staff members and volunteers also played "Civil War Blockade Strategy," a creative spin on the popular "Stratego" series of board games.

"1942" Perler Bead Craft Activity 

The most popular portion of the evening was for the 1942 perler bead craft activity.  Kids used perler beads to create gaming icons, or "sprites" from the popular NES/Arcade game.  A basic understanding of graphs and plotting were required to create a perfect product.  There is always a way to mix a little bit of learning with fun!

It was a treat to see parents watching their children play the same video games they used to play when they were kids.  In fact, one of the most interesting aspects of the event was the generation gap.  Many of the younger participants had a rude awakening when they realized that their controllers were not motion-controlled.  Technology is a great equalizer at times, and this event helped bridge the gap between previous generations to the present one.  

We hope everybody that attended had a wonderful time.  Special thanks go out to all the staff and volunteers who helped make this event possible.  For more information on our current 2013 programs, contact Lee Duckworth, Director of Education, at (757) 322-2992.  

June 19th Video Games Revealed!

And here they are!  These games will be available for you to play the night of June 19^th for the next After Hours History event, "You Sunk My Battleship:" Navy Video and Board Games Night. 

High Score Contest – Nintendo Wii

1942 

(Capcom, 1984)

The highlight of the evening will be the High Score Contest for the classic Capcom game, 1942. Launched as an arcade platform in 1984, 1942 put the video game developer on the map.  It was one of the first three games released by the company in the 1980s.  All three games (Ghosts 'NGoblins, 1942, and Commando) sold over 1 million copies.  1942 remains one of the most successful vertical scrolling shooters, following the footsteps of Galaga, Galaxian, and Xevious.  It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, making it the largest success in the 19XX series.  Guests will play the Virtual Console edition of the game made available on the Nintendo Wii in 2010.  Get ready to mash those buttons!

8 Bit Generation – Nintendo Entertainment System:

Top Gun 

(Konami, 1987)

Get ready to take your video game skills to the danger zone in this 1987 classic based off the blockbuster film.  Top Gun became one of the most successful (and first) flight simulator games for the Nintendo Entertainment System.  It also included one of the most iconic and difficult maneuvers in video game history: landing on an aircraft carrier.  If you make it to the second level, you can deal with the second most difficult maneuver in video game history: refueling your plane.  Top Gun sparked a long series of marketable sequels up to the present day.  

Silent Service 

(Microprose, 1989)

Before Sid Meier created the worldwide phenomenon Civilization, he created Silent Service.  It was one of the first two games developed by his company, MicroProse, in the early 1980s.  Silent Service first saw action in the mid-1980s on 8-bit computer systems.  With the help of Ultra, the submarine simulator ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System at the end of the decade.  By then, the realistic simulator made Meier a smashing success and beloved video game icon to this day.  

16 Bit Generation - Super Nintendo Entertainment System:

 Carrier Aces

(Cybersoft, 1995)

Unfortunately, there is not much to say about this Japanese import.  When the 16-bit generation emerged in the early nineties, most flight simulators focused on land-based tactics (think Desert Storm).  Although several games exist that tread the fine line of the U.S. Navy in video games, Carrier Aces delivers.  Guests will be able to play by themselves or with a friend in a series of 5 training missions.  Have you ever wanted to see if you can make a torpedo run like the heroes at Midway?  Play this game on the 19th and find out!     

Super Battleship

(Mindscape Software, 1993)

We couldn't have a video game event without its namesake, Battleship.  So much has happened for the game since it started as a simple pencil and paper activity in the early twentieth century.  Since then, it developed into a video and board game empire capped off by a 2012 Summer blockbuster film.  Unlike other versions, Super Battleship also offers a campaign mode that mixes hex-style tabletop strategy and arcade-style shooters.  Although this version is available in single player only, attending guests will enjoy helping teammates out as they attempt to sink the enemy's fleet before theirs.  Fight for your chance to say, "You Sunk My Battleship!"    

Seventh Generation , X BOX 360:

Battlestations: Midway 

(Eidos Interactive, 2007)

Winner of the "Sweet 16" bracket contest we held a few weeks back, Battlestations: Midway was a huge success when it hit the shelves in 2007.  Praised for its graphics and game play, the game received favorable reviews across the board.  IGN, arguably the toughest of game critics, scored the game an 8.5 out of 10.  Their verdict says it all: "While so many action games are devoid of strategy and so many strategy games are short on action, Battlestations: Midway delivers both."  Guests will be playing the X BOX 360 version. 

1942: Joint Strike 

(Capcom, 2008)

For those of you who play the 1942 High Score contest and want a little more taste of the game, 1942: Joint Strike is just the thing.  Released in 2008 as a remake to the classic game 1942, Joint Strike offers super graphics and controls for the next generation gamer.  It includes different elements of the 19XX series, such as the health meter from 1943: The Battle of Midway, and a level rank system from 19XX: The War Against Destiny.  Since its release, it has sold over 119,000 copies.  Guests will play the version of the game made available in the Capcom Digital Collection.

Don't Forget!  Reservations are required for this event.  Reserve your spot by calling (757) 322-3108 or go on our Facebook Events Page. 

"You Sunk My Battleship:" Navy Video and Board Game Night

Picture yourself when you were younger.  Do you remember wrapping up in a blanket, sitting inches away from your mammoth television screen?  Did you spend sleepovers with friends the same way?  Like moths attracted to the soft glow of a bug zapper, you spent hours in front of that screen, mashing your thumbs against a plastic controller until your mother told you it was time for bed.  If you do, then you remember playing video games as a child. 

I know I do. 

I have always loved two things: Video games and the United States Navy.  Growing up in Hampton Roads, I felt a deep connection to the Navy, and a deeper love for the burgeoning entertainment medium.  It wasn’t until last year that the idea to put the two together stuck.  Why not mix the best of both worlds: naval history and video/board games? 

You can find out about both and their connection on June 19^th during our next After Hours History event, “You Sunk My Battleship:” Navy Video andBoard Game Night. 

As we ended the Cold War in the early nineties, new consoles rolling out of Japan brought us smoother graphics and complex interfaces.  For naval video games, opportunities seemed endless.  Replicating on the success tested in previous decades, game developers took popular concepts of naval aviation, pencil and paper strategy, and vertical shooters to the next level. 

What has changed since then?  Less than you think.  Screens are flatter. Games are now digital.  Many are available via wireless Internet or on digital video discs (DVD).  Controllers got smaller, then larger, and then smaller again.  We are now at a point where humans become the controllers.  

Yet in a way, today’s budding generation of gamers know that same feeling I felt many years ago.  I marveled at the brilliant 8-bit backgrounds and elaborate splash screens.  The way the pixelated ships lagged across the television screen.  The music.  The anticipation of beating a high score.  For a young boy, these were some of the best thrills money could buy, neatly packaged in a plastic cartridge.  It’s hard to think such a tiny piece of technology could bring so much joy and excitement to countless people over the last thirty years. 

Like it or not, video games taught us valuable lessons in coordination, memory, cognition, thrift, and time management.  HRNM staff invite you to relieve old memories and learn a little about the role of the United States Navy in video and board games.  

During the 19 June event, we will have the following for all those who reserve their spot:

• Free Food and Drinks (Family Friendly) courtesy of the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation
• Main Event: High Score contest for the 1984 Arcade Game 1942 in the Nauticus Theater.  Play the game on a giant screen!
• Three other video game stations with playable versions of the most beloved naval video games of all time!
•  Panel exhibit on the history of the United States Navy and video/board games.
• 3 brand new activities created by HRNM Education that take a naval "spin" on classic board games: Stratego, Memory, and Battleship.  

One of the games in BETA Mode.  A Civil War Navy spin to Stratego!

Don’t forget to RSVP for the event.  It will run 6pm to 8pm. You can either call our reservation line at (757) 322-3108. Or go to the Facebook events page: http://on.fb.me/12jXztF

Stay tuned when we announce the list of games in upcoming weeks!  

A Short Goodbye Note

I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to say goodbye to all of you. I've taken a new job and will be leaving the Hampton Roads Naval Museum next Friday, March 22. I thought writing a short blog post would be cathartic for me--because I'm really going to miss this place and all of you--and I hope you'll forgive me for this indulgence!

I'll miss my co-workers and the friends I've made while working at the Naval Museum the most. I can't imagine life without Sebastian the Shark (shown in the photo below)...just kidding, of course. In all seriousness, I've never worked with a better group of people--both those who actually work in the museum and those who visit us everyday. It's been a great ride.

After our Halloween puppet show, 2011

I've learned a lot in my time here. When I started at the Naval Museum, my knowledge of naval history was pretty much non-existent, and while I'm nowhere near an authority, I've learned quite a bit. I've spent my time doing education programs for students, puppeteering (who knew that was going to happen? I sure didn't--but what fun!), giving talks about naval history and the Battle of Midway to naval commands, and planning the Naval Museum's wide variety of special events. One event that really stands out to me (and that all of you have heard about a million times) is Lego Shipbuilding, pretty much the best event ever. I know I won't be working here next February for this program, but I still intend to come and enjoy it!

One of the participants builds a ship at Lego Shipbuilding 2013

I could babble on for hours about this place and what it has meant to me during the last 2.5 years, but I imagine that'll get too sappy for a public blog post. In the end, I just want to say thank you and that I'll miss you all very much!

-Laura

Coming Up in 2013

Happy New Year! 2013 will be a very busy year at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. We have a lot of great events planned, and this blog post will give you a little taste for our plans. All of our events this year are free of charge!

One event we hope you've heard about already is scheduled for Saturday, February 2, when HRNM will host "Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding." This is our second year for this Lego Shipbuilding program, and we promise this event will be better than ever. It's for both kids and adults, and we're asking people to bring their own ships to enter in our contest (ages 4+). More details can be found in this blog post.

Other events for 2013 include a military family day at HRNM and Nauticus, where admission to the battleship and Nauticus will be free for military families with ID! This event is scheduled for Saturday, April 13. In addition to the free admission, we'll also be doing a lot of fun crafts and activities for families at HRNM.

In mid-June, we'll be hosting "You Sank My Battleship!", a family fun evening about Navy board games and video games. Come to HRNM to play some of the old-standbys, including Battleship, and also get the chance to participate in Navy-related video games. You and your kids could win lots of great prizes during this free event on June 19, which will run from 6-8pm.

Finally, one of our biggest events of 2013 will be Civil War Navy Day at HRNM, scheduled for Tuesday, September 17. The Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission's HistoryMobile will be here at HRNM for visitors to see, HRNM staff will be running fun activities, tours, and interactive programs about the Civil War Navy all day, and at 6pm, Dr. James McPherson will speak about his new book, War on the Waters: The Union and Confederate Navies, 1861-1865. McPherson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and emeritus professor of history at Princeton University, will also be available for a book-signing after his talk. This event is also free, and is co-sponsored by the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Navy League.

As you can see, we have a lot going on in 2013. This blog post just gives the basic information, so save these dates and keep an eye out for more information as we get closer to each of these events. Visit our Facebook page or contact us at laura.l.orr@navy.mil for additional information about any of our upcoming events. Hope to see you at HRNM in 2013!