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Location
Best time
Arrive early or call ahead to confirm the museum is open, as it's volunteer-run and doesn't always open on time despite keeping library hours. This will help you avoid a wasted trip.
Visitor tip
Request a guided tour from the knowledgeable volunteer staff (including curator Charles) when you arrive—visitors consistently praise their expertise and ability to provide context beyond what's displayed, significantly enhancing the experience.
Visitor tip
This museum is a must-visit for anyone with Ocean View connections or local history interest—the restored roller coaster car and boat from the defunct theme park are the highlight exhibits, offering tangible connections to the area's nostalgic past that many Norfolk natives will recognize.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Natural History Museum
- Focus
- Local Ocean View history
- Main Highlights
- Restored theme park car and boat, naval history, WWII exhibits
- Admission
- Free (donations welcome)
What visitors say
Growing up in the Norfolk area, you hear a lot about Ocean View, so it was wonderful to see pieces of its history in person. The museum is filled with photos, trinkets, tickets, and even a restored car from the famous roller coaster— a…
Cute and small hyper local history museum. I want to call it more of a local historical center with a bunch of artifacts, articles and art. The space is definitely too small for the mission and vision. Still, I'm grateful to the…
This is a small museum in Pretlow library. There is not much info about it anywhere. But, it keeps the same hours as the library (though it is volunteer run and doesn't always open on time) and is to the right of the main entrance - so…
From 43 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The museum preserves a restored car from a famous roller coaster that was demolished in a movie scene, an artifact with dual significance as both theme park history and film history
- Nearly every native of the Norfolk area has a personal connection to Ocean View's history, with many locals knowing someone who was an extra in the film where the roller coaster was blown up
- The museum is volunteer-run and operates within Pretlow Library, housed in a space that curators acknowledge is too small for the extensive collection of naval history, WWII artifacts, storm records, and local memorabilia
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