The Shipyard Experience
Explore the history of Newport News Shipyard on a guided trolley tour led by a museum historian from Newport News Historic Services. While the shipyard itself is not accessible due to security restrictions, the tour visits key related sites including Huntington Avenue, the tugboat Dorothy, the Apprentice School Dormitory, Victory Arch and Victory Landing Park, the Yard District, and Hilton Village. Guests will learn about the shipyard’s founding, its role in 20th-century wars, and its impact today.
The tour begins and ends at the Virginia War Museum with free parking available. The climate-controlled trolley is wheelchair accessible but cannot accommodate car seats, and the tour is not recommended for children. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged, as pre-sales close at 3:00pm the day before the tour.
Black History Month Tours
In honor of Black History Month, Historic Endview and Lee Hall Mansion will offer special guided tours each Saturday in February that highlight the experiences of enslaved and free African Americans who lived and worked on these properties over the centuries.
Through these tours, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the individuals whose stories shaped the history of both sites—from the colonial period through the Civil War and beyond.
Tours are offered every half hour from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are included with general admission.
Discover the powerful and personal histories that continue to influence the region today.
All Aboard for Stories and STEAM: African-Americans and the Railroad
Celebrate Black History Month at Lee Hall Depot with a full day of learning, creativity, and discovery during All Aboard for Stories and STEAM: African-Americans and the Railroad. This family-friendly program highlights the vital role African-Americans played in shaping railroad history through hands-on activities, storytelling, and interactive learning experiences.
Throughout the day, visitors can explore a Maker Space led by the City of Newport News Library Outreach Team, learn about the groundbreaking contributions of Black inventors to railroad innovation, and design their own creations at the Create Your Own Blueprint station. A temporary Interpretive Story Board Exhibit will guide guests through African-Americans’ contributions to the railroad, including stories of enslaved individuals, women’s history, and the civil rights movement.
Scheduled storytimes of All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine will take place at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., offering engaging moments for younger visitors throughout the day.
This immersive program invites families to learn, imagine, and connect with history in meaningful ways.
Chocolate and it’s Makers: A Chocolate Making Demonstration
Celebrate Celebrate Black History Month at Historic Endview with Chocolate and Its Makers, a live demonstration and interpretive program exploring the global journey of chocolate and its deep connections to Virginia’s colonial past.
This engaging program invites visitors to step back into the eighteenth century to discover how chocolate was made, consumed, and traded—and the people whose labor and knowledge made it possible.
During this program, visitors will:
Experience a live eighteenth-century chocolate-making demonstration, tracing the process from cacao bean to cup.
Learn about chocolate’s origins in the Americas and its transformation as it moved through European and colonial societies.
Explore the role of Virginia’s colonial ports, including York and Hampton, in the trade and distribution of chocolate throughout the region.
Discover the stories of enslaved individuals, such as Caesar of Stratford Hall, whose skilled labor contributed to chocolate production in eighteenth-century Virginia—contributions that have often gone unrecognized.
Gain insight into ongoing historical research revealing chocolate’s presence in Warwick County and surrounding areas.
All Black History Month tours are included with general admission.
