Education
Supported by:
Official Education Media Partner
More than 60 ships from 20 countries and 7,000+ international sailors will participate in the June 2026 Sail250® Virginia events. This offers incredible opportunities for students of all ages across the Commonwealth of Virginia to get involved and incorporate maritime themes into their educational curriculum in school or at home! Sail250® Virginia programming and events will illustrate the importance of Virginia’s maritime community throughout our history and in our modern world, recognize the importance of our maritime military services, and highlight the strong international partnerships between Virginia and the world.
This page provides educators with the resources they need to participate in the Sail250® Virginia events – as part of our Adopt-A-Ship program, with more than 200 maritime themed online educational links, or with ideas for maritime themed projects to engage their students. We hope you enjoy this material and look forward to you being part of the Sail250® Virginia events!
THE DISCOVERY DECK – EDUCATION CENTER
Location: The Discovery Deck Pavilion (behind Nauticus)
Dates: June 19–21 | Times: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Daily
Discover where we’ve been and where we’re going at Sail250® Virginia’s official education center! Perfect for lifelong learners of all ages, the Discovery Deck features interactive displays from community groups, schools, and businesses highlighting maritime, military, and international history. Join us for hands-on activities, career inspiration, and special events honoring Juneteenth as we celebrate our shared triumphs and reflect on the journey of America’s first 250 years.
Exhibitors & Activities
Enjoy hands-on art activities, pick of creative swag, and learn about the amazing Chrysler Museum of Art and Perry Glass Studio. Don't forget to enter the free raffle to win a Hot Glass class for two and get information on the Black Music & Art Celebration!
Dive into STEM with Lego ship building, ship-themed coded video games, and 3D-printed ship giveaways. Learn about their coding, robotics, and design programs for ages 5–14.
Explore a powerful historic exhibit and participate in regularly scheduled 40-minute educational programs detailing the legacy of the Amistad.
Experience hands-on environmental education with the ‘Barge on Wheels’ mobile education vehicle featuring live river critters while learning about local wildlife, water quality, and blue-green careers.
Discover the history of this 10.5-mile National Recreation Trail and its connection to the working waterfront. Spin the trivia wheel to test your knowledge and win prizes!
Visit the "LVA on the Go" van and view copies of original historical documents. Learn about transcription projects, genealogy, and how the state's unique collections relate to VA250.
Ever wanted to DJ? Step into an Interactive DJ booth and spin your favorite songs. MTS is an educational creative hub dedicated to empowering Youth, Adults & Veterans through Music, Technology, and the Arts. With hands-on instruction in music production, professional development, and Clinical Group Therapy.
Home to the Battleship Wisconsin and Sail Nauticus. Join them for a traditional fish-printing art activity, or track student-built miniboats to see how they navigate the ocean. Bonus: Sail Nauticus will offer sailabouts aboard their fleet of Harbor 20s all weekend!
Step back in time and learn about the history of the Norfolk Harbor from reenactor in 1812-1820’s period attire. Learn signal flags with and interactive board game.
Celebrating the African Diaspora worldwide through education and cultural arts. Visit their interactive booth for dynamic cultural displays and live performances.
Honoring the legacy of WWII heroes and inspiring future generations. Check out the drone displays, watch historic WWII footage, and learn about their youth STEAM camps and mentoring programs.
Bring the family by to connect with wildlife and learn about local conservation efforts. Be a nature detective to figure out what animals visit by what they leave behind.
Step into the role of a marine scientist to "catch," measure, tag, and safely release sharks through our simulated shark longline survey activity! You'll learn how our 52-year-long survey has helped scientists track and protect Virginia's shark populations.
Connect with the region’s PBS and PBS KIDS affiliate. Stop by to explore educational content, pick up fun learning materials, and take photos with your favorite PBS signage.
HISTORY ALIVE! - HISTORIC CHARACTERS WITH TIES TO NORFOLK & HAMPTON ROADS
History comes to life with live portrayals of historical figures. Strolling throughout the event, costumed interpreters provide engaging, first-person perspectives that illuminate the struggles, achievements, and enduring legacy of those who helped shape our nation.
Noon – 6 pm daily, June 19 – 21, 2026.
Meet Norfolk’s Historic Characters from The Age of Sail:
• Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809 –1876) set sail in 1829 from Norfolk on the ship Harriet bound for Monrovia. Roberts was a successful Norfolk merchant and became the first president of Liberia. Other ships, including the Saluda, also sailed from Norfolk to the region.
• Moses Myers (1753 – 1835) became Norfolk’s first Jewish settler in 1787. Within five years had established a five-vessel fleet for his import-export business. The Embargo Act of 1816 forced Myers into bankruptcy. He was told he could avoid debtors’ prison by trafficking in slaves or opium, but he refused. Although he was never able to recover his fortune, his debts were repaid by the time of his death.
• Shadrach Menkins, (1814 – 1875) was born enslaved in Norfolk but escaped to Boston in the spring of 1850. Nine months later, slave catchers, empowered by the Fugitive Slave Act had him arrested and tried. As the gavel fell, black and white Bostonians staged a daring courthouse rescue and successfully escorted Minkins out of the city to safety. This represented an important challenge to that law.
• Captain James Watson Fountain (1812- 1878) known as “Alfred Fountain” was arguably the most successful and trusted seaman on the Underground Railroad. He is referenced many times in William Stills’ “Chronicles of the Underground Railroad”. His encounter with the mayor of Norfolk is well known, but only one chapter in his very interesting life.
• Minkins (unknown) was the steward aboard Captain Fountain’s ship. Being free black, Minkins aroused no suspicion by associating with other blacks and could thereby serve as liaison between Fountain, Bagnall, and the black community.
• William Bagnall (unknown) was a Norfolk banker and an important operative on its Underground Railroad network. He served as an open line of communication between those who escaped North and the loved ones they left behind.
• Clarissa Davis (unknown) was enslaved in Portsmouth, but escaped on Captain Fountain’s schooner, the City of Richmond in 1854, to join her brothers in Philadelphia. Clarissa hid under a porch for 75 days after initially missing her rendezvous with Fountain’s ship. She married another runaway from Portsmouth, Sheridan Ford.
• George Latimer (July 4, 1819 – May 29, 1897) was an escaped enslaved man from Norfolk whose 1842 case in Boston sparked major anti-slavery activism and led to the "Latimer Law”. In 1851 he was involved in the rescue of another escaped enslaved man from Norfolk, Shadrach Menkins, when he was paid to keep Minkins's owner under surveillance.
• Henry “Bluebeard” Lewey, (unknown) was a legendary, enslaved Norfolk man and famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, successfully guiding freedom seekers to waiting ships and one of the most effective operatives in the regions maritime escape network. Over time, suspicion grew to the point that he and his family had no choice but to escape themselves.
• Annetta M. Lane (c.1838-1908) enslaved Norfolk woman and operative on the Underground Railroad. She was a principal founder of the United Order of Tents, a secret society of black women formed to aid the Underground Railroad, officially established during Reconstruction. The United Order of Tents still exists today.
• Eliza McCoy (unknown) Eliza McCoy escaped from Norfolk to Philadelphia in November 1854 to join her husband, Robert McCoy, who left a month earlier. Eliza hid for seven months in close quarters before finally being secreted aboard a steamer to Philadelphia and after a period of recuperation, joined her husband.
• Father Matthew O’Keefe (1801 – 1870) was pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church (now Basilica) in Norfolk known for his bravery during the 1855 yellow fever epidemic, his fight for racial inclusion against Know-Nothing threats), and building the new church building after the original was burned in 1856 presumably by Know-Nothings. Tunnels found beneath the church and his overtures to the black community in Norfolk, suggest that Father O’Keefe and St. Mary’s may have been involved in the UGRR.
• Michael “Hell Roaring” Healy (1839 – 1904) Just one month before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln signed Healy’s commission, making him the first U.S. sea service officer of African descent and the first to command a federal ship. He served his first two years on the east coast in the Cutter service (predecessor to the U.S. Coast Guard) before making a name for himself in the Alaskan territory.
JUNETEENTH REMEMBERS
WHRO Public Media is proud to provide a special video collection for this year’s Juneteenth celebration, featuring African American history and powerful stories from Virginians and local voices. These videos offer moments of reflection and connection throughout the weekend, complementing the festival’s celebration of unity, freedom, and cultural heritage
More than a dozen Norfolk African American stories and interviews will be rotated on giant festival video walls between stage performances, narrated by local African American celebrities. These videos will also be shown on the video screen in the Discovery Deck Education Center at the Nauticus Pavilion and added to the Juneteenth website for future historic reference as part of the 2026 Norfolk Juneteenth legacy.
ADOPT-A-SHIP
The Sail250® Virginia Adopt-A-Ship program allows schools, homeschool co-ops, youth programs, and civic organizations from across Virginia to directly engage with the international sailors of the visiting ships. Participating schools and organizations can “adopt” a specific ship and become ambassadors for Virginia – learning about the country from which their ship hails, communicating with the ship’s crew before their arrival, and even welcoming their ship to Virginia in June 2026. This downloadable PDF provides more information about the Sail250® Virginia Adopt-A-Ship program and how to get involved.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The Sail250® Virginia educational team has collected links to more than 200 online resources and nearly 100 books that focus on maritime history from our country’s 250 years. These resources include personal narratives and oral histories, videos, and educational curriculum from some of the best maritime institutions around the country. Whether you are a teacher, parent, youth leader, or just interested in maritime history, this collection of resources contains great content for you to enjoy and share! The downloadable PDF allows you to quickly find maritime content related to specific themes, time periods, or formats, and to directly access those links from the PDF. Sail250® Virginia is grateful for the support of The Port of Virginia in our efforts to compile and present these resources to be used by teachers and students.
SUGGESTED MARITIME PROJECTS
Looking for inspiration on how to engage your students in maritime projects related to the Sail250® Virginia events? This collection of maritime themed projects and educational content has something for students of all ages – from coloring and activity books to mock U.N. style maritime incidents from world history. Whether you are in a classroom, or in a kitchen (galley), find a project that is right for you and your student’s interests and abilities. Sail250® Virginia is grateful for the support of The Port of Virginia in our efforts to compile and present these projects to be used by teachers and students.
The "Dispelling the Myth" project was a collaboration between the Film and Humanities Institute at Norfolk State University, Norfolk Public Libraries, City of Norfolk, and Norfolk Festevents, LTD in 2019. The project dispels the myth that Norfolk Harborfest® and modern tall ships are associated with the historic slave trade. The brochure below provides information about the project, which continues to be a valuable educational resource today.
SPEAKER SERIES
As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, Sail250® Virginia is hosting a
three-part speaker series, highlighting the importance of maritime history from America’s
founding to today. These three events, being held in October 2025, January 2026, and
April 2026, will feature award winning maritime authors exploring important aspects and
events from our maritime past. Each of these events will include a talk followed by a
question-and-answer session and a reception with light refreshments. The Sail250®
Virginia Speaker Series is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required to
reserve your ticket, as seating will be limited.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 7PM The Slover - Nathaniel Philbrick
Award winning author and historian, Nathaniel Philbrick, has written numerous New York Times Bestselling books including In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, and In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown. His most recent book is Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy. He will be speaking about the Revolutionary War, the Battle of the Capes, and Chesapeake Bay's legacy in the American Revolution. Space for this event is limited and RSVPs are required. You can learn more and sign up to attend this event here - https://sail250virginia.com/rsvp/philbrick
Thursday, January 8, 2026 – 7PM The Slover – Dr. Cassandra Newby Alexander, Dr. Cheryl LaRoche and Dr. Timothy Walker – Maritime Aspects of the Underground Railroad
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, the Vice Chair of the Sail250® Virginia Executive Board of Directors, will examine the often-overlooked maritime dimensions of the Underground Railroad, exploring how Virginia's waterways served as critical pathways to freedom for enslaved people seeking liberation.
Dr. Newby-Alexander, Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture at Norfolk State University, will be joined by two other distinguished scholars – Dr. Cheryl LaRoche, associate research professor in Historic Preservation at the University of Maryland, and Dr. Timothy Walker, professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Dr. LaRoche is the author of Free Black Communities and the Underground Railroad: The Geography of Resistance and the forthcoming Apostle of Liberation: AME Bishop Paul Quinn and the Underground Railroad. Her multidisciplinary work has earned recognition from the Maryland Historical Trust and the Society of Historical Archaeology.
Dr. Walker, editor of Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad, brings expertise in Atlantic World maritime history and has collaborated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on historical climate research using 19th-century whaling vessel logs.
You can learn more and sign up to attend this event here -https://sail250virginia.com/rsvp/UndergroundRailroad
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – 7PM The Slover – Ian Toll
Renowned nautical historian and bestselling author Ian Toll will discuss the importance of the U.S. Navy in World War II and the role of Naval Station Norfolk in supporting the war effort. Toll is best known for his Pacific War Trilogy and Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy, which won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature.
His Pacific War Trilogy — Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods — includes two New York Times bestsellers and has been praised by critics and military historians alike. Toll has lectured at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Pentagon, and the Naval War College, and has contributed to major publications, including the New York Times and Washington Post.
You can learn more and sign up to attend this event here - https://sail250virginia.com/rsvp/iantoll
WHRO Public Media is owned by 21 local school divisions – education is at the heart of all we do.
Learn more about the many free resources and services we offer.
education.whro.org
Thank you to our Sponsors
Admiral Level
Captain Level
