Education
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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.
Highlighting brilliant West African artists from our collective in Lagos, Nigeria, we bring their contemporary works over to our Hampton Roads galleries.
Engage in activities featuring African art, culture, and history.
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.
Serving our community since 1944, Tidewater Post 4809 will provide patriotic education related to the American Flag, the VFW’s Buddy Poppy program, and share information about our Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen, Scout of the Year, Patriotic Arts Program, Junior ROTC recognition, and Teacher of the Year programs.
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:
Annetta Lane was an enslaved operative on the UGRR when she received a vision of black women banded together, taking care of the sick, the elderly, and each other. That vision became reality in a secret sisterhood known as the Order of the Tents. It all started in Norfolk and still exists today!
Josephine Norcom wife of Portsmouth educator I.C. Norcom, was a suffragette and so much more! Missions? Equal rights? Better educational opportunities? Josephine made her voice heard!
Pauline Adams was an Irish-born local suffragette. Her militant approach landed her in prison for a time.
Jack Sparrow was contracted into indentured servitude by his mother to a sea captain in exchange for being taught all the skills of seamanship. Apprenticeships and indentured servitude enabled children, like Jack, to learn a trade and achieve success in life.
Henry Lewey was an Underground Railroad operative on the Elizabeth River who saw many freedom seekers safely aboard vessels headed north. Known as Bluebeard, Norfolk authorities jailed him on suspicion but released him for lack of evidence. Henry took that ashis cue to get his wife and himself to freedom.
James Byers was a steamer captain who famously hijacked his own ship, the J.B. White in 1861 from Confederates in Norfolk and sailed it back to Union lines.
Cesar Tarrant was an enslaved naval hero of the Revolutionary War. His maritime expertise helped secure key Patriot victories. He was eventually granted his freedom after the war.
Major F.W. Emery served as the Assistant Adjutant General for Major General Gordon Granger when he sailed into Galveston, Texas. Emery recorded and issued General Order #3 June 19, 1865, which announced the end of slavery in Texas.
Admiral David Farragut had a notable encounter on the Norfolk waterfront as a young midshipman, much to the amusement of his commanding officer.Later, David becamethe first full admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Captain Alfred Fountain carried freedom seekers from Norfolk safely north to Philadelphia on his schooner. His famous encounter with Norfolk’s mayor is documented in William Still’s famous account of “The Underground Railroad”.
Clarissa Davis escaped with the help of William Bagnall and a steward named John Minkins aboard the steamship City of Richmond in 1854, to join her brothers in Philadelphia. Clarissa hid under a porch for 75 days after missing her rendezvous with the ship.
William Bagnall was a Norfolk banker and an important operative on its Underground Railroad network. He also served as an open line of communication between those who escaped North and their loved ones left behind.
Sister Anne Vincent was one of three Daughters of Charity sent in 1848 to open an orphan asylum in Norfolk. Sister Anne Vincent worked alongside Father O’Keefe during the 1855 Yellow Fever epidemic and witnessed the priest’s stand to continue interracial Masses and the church’s involvement in the UGRR using hidden tunnels.
Commodore Matthew Perry famously left Norfolk on the paddle frigate SS Mississippi in 1852 for his expedition to Japan. His efforts led to the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, which opened Japan to trade with the U.S. which opened Japan to trade with the U.S.He is accompanied by his wife, Jane.
Moses Myers became Norfolk’s first Jewish settler in 1787. The Embargo Act of 1816 forced Moses’five-vessel import-export business into bankruptcy. Told he could avoid debtors’ prison by trafficking in slaves or opium, Mosesrefusedand was never able to recover his fortune. Moses managed to repay his debts bythe time of his death.
James Ellis was a soldier in Company ‘A’ 23rd Regiment of theUnited States Colored Troops. Under General Philip Sheridan’s army, the 23rd USCT was sent to the Texas-Mexico border May-November 1865 to enforce federal policies and maintain peace.
Grace O’Malley was widely known as Ireland's "Pirate Queen". She commanded a vast fleet of ships, dominating the western coast of Ireland, engaging in sea-trading and plundering. An Irish Pub at 211 Granby Street bears her name.
Marie Louveste was a Norfolk merchant and Union spy. She delivered details of plans for the conversion of the wrecked USS Merrimack to an ironclad, In February 1862, Mary was smuggled into Union territory to personally meet with U.S. Secretary of the NavyGideon Welles, where she providedhim the blueprints of that ironclad, named CSS Virginia.
The Maids of the Dancing Molly, also referred to as the “plucky petticoat pirates”, famously humiliated Virginia’s governor as he personally and unsuccessfully attempted to capture the pirates loop during the Chesapeake Oyster Wars.
Harriet Taylor co-founded The United Order of Tents in Virginia in 1867. The secret society—the oldest African American women's aid organization in the U.S.—began as a clandestine network on the Underground Railroad, helping escaping slaves find freedom. Before becoming a formal benevolent society, the women acted as 'conductors.' The name 'Tents' refers to the makeshift shelters fugitive slaves hid in during their escape on the Underground Railroad. Like her fellow founder, Annetta Lane, Harriet was also at one time enslaved herself.
Captain Bayliss piloted his schooner Keziah with five freedom seekers aboard, and were captured about 30 miles down the James River from Petersburg inMay 1858. Bayliss was almost lynched by an angry mob. He was sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison. After six years, he was pardoned by Jefferson Davis and released.
John Minkins was a steward aboard the steamship City of Richmond, not to be confused with Captain Alfred Fountain’s schooner of the same name. John was an important conductor on the UGRR, and is mentionedin William Stills account of Clarissa Davis’ escape from Portsmouth to Philadelphia.
Eliza Baines was an important operative in the UGRR network in Norfolk and Portsmouth. Bains was an enslaved woman who worked as a laundress at the Crawford Hotel on the Portsmouth waterfront, a hub for sea captains and their crews. Here, Bains gleaned information like ships schedules and which seaman could be trusted.
Isabella Fountain was the wife of the famous UGRR captain James Watson Fountain, who went by the psedonym Alfred Fountain. Isabella bore the good captain sevenchildren, and held the family together during his sea adventures.
Jude Heath became a cabin boy at the age of 12. Like most cabin boys, he ran errands, helped the cook in the ship's kitchen. Jude would scramble up the rigging into the yards whenever the sails had to be trimmed. If he was lucky, hemightbe asked to stand watch like other crewmen or act as helmsman in good weather, holding the wheel to keep the ship steady on her course.
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 in June. Many of the groups will also be greeting their ships upon arrival, enjoying special tours on board the ships cheering crew teams in the soccer tournament, and marching with crews in the Parade of Cadets.
Here are the 2026 Adopt-A-Ship Partners and their adopted ships:
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American Legion 2nd District, Norfolk |
MIRCEA, Romania |
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Baylake Youth Program/Troop 67, Virginia Beach |
LIBERTAD, Argentina |
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Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach |
ESMERALDA, Chile |
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Christopher Academy, Portsmouth |
LIBERTAD, Argentina |
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Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy, Virginia Beach |
SAGRES, Portugal |
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Crossroads Civic League, Norfolk |
MIRCEA, Romania |
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Cumberland County Public Schools, Cumberland |
JUAN SEBASTIAN de ELCANO, Spain |
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Denbigh High School, Newport News |
JUAN SEBASTIAN de ELCANO, Spain |
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Girl Scout Service Unit 375, Norfolk |
GLORIA, Colombia |
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Girl Scout Troop 1510, Chesapeake |
BELLE POULE, France |
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Hampton Roads Pride, Norfolk |
OOSTERSCHELDE, Netherlands |
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Indian River High School, Chesapeake |
SAGRES, Portugal |
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Isle of Wight County Schools, Smithfield |
PRIDE of BALTIMORE II, USA |
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Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, Loudoun |
GORCH FOCK, Germany |
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Mathews County Public Schools, Mathews |
VIRGINIA, USA |
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Norfolk Boat Club, Norfolk |
GUAYAS, Ecuador |
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Norfolk Collegiate School, Norfolk |
OOSTERSCHELDE, Netherlands |
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Norfolk Historical Society, Norfolk |
VIRGINIA, USA |
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Norview High School/NJROTC, Norfolk |
GLADAN, Sweden |
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Parkview Elementary School, Portsmouth |
GODSPEED, USA |
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Propeller Club, Port of Norfolk, Norfolk |
CAPITÁN MIRANDA, Uruguay |
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Sail Nauticus, Norfolk |
BAP UNIÓN, Peru |
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Scout Troop 24, Norfolk |
BELLE POULE, France |
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Tabb Elementary School, Yorktown |
SUDARSHINI, India |
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Taste of India/Bharat Inc, Chesapeake |
SUDARSHINI, India |
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The New E3 School, Norfolk |
BAP UNIÓN, Peru |
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Tidewater Community College, Norfolk |
EAGLE, USA |
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Virginia Club, Norfolk |
BOWDOIN, USA |
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Windsor Oaks Elementary School, Virginia Beach |
GLADAN, Sweden |
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
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