Abraham Lincoln and More at the Battle of Hampton Roads Commemoration on March 9th

NEWPORT NEWS, VA— On Saturday, March 9, 2019, The Mariners’ Museum and Park will host a day-long event filled with family-friendly programming and activities to commemorate the famous Civil War Battle that changed modern naval history forever.

This year, to honor the 157th Anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads, the Museum will offer dozens of activities that are free with $1 admission. Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by George Buss, will again be a part of the event to interact with guests, take pictures, and answer questions. Buss has interpreted Abraham Lincoln for thousands of audiences across the United States to critical acclaim for over the past 25 years. Mr. Lincoln will also be visiting fourth graders at three Newport News Elementary Schools Friday, March 8 prior to the Saturday event.

Other activities during Battle of Hampton Roads Day include reenactors from the Tidewater Maritime Living History Association, which will bring history to life through demonstrations and storytelling. Throughout the USS Monitor Center, guests will learn new stories about artifacts with in-gallery interpretation by Museum staff. Guests can also get a behind-the-scenes look in the Batten Conservation Complex’s storage and research area to hear about and see objects from the Monitor Collection that are not typically on display.

The day will end with the fan-favorite History Bites food-tasting competition at 6:30 p.m. Hampton Roads’ top restaurants, caterers, and culinary schools will prepare their best interpretations of 19th-century dishes, such as Brunswick stew, oyster soup, asparagus soup, roast beef, corn beef hash, Boston cream cakes, lemon pudding, and much more! Cooks will compete for the coveted Cast-Iron Skillet Awards, including People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice. During the event, guests get unlimited samples of all the dishes and can mingle with Abraham Lincoln and other historical interpreters. Tickets for this evening event are $35 for Museum Members and $45 for non-members and include unlimited food tastings and one drink ticket. A cash bar will offer a selection of beers and wines.

For more information about Battle of Hampton Roads Day and History Bites, please visit MarinersMuseum.org.

The Mariners' Museum and Park connect people to the world's waters because through the water – through our shared maritime heritage - we are connected to one another. The organization is an educational, non-profit institution accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and preserves and interprets maritime history through an international collection of ship models, figureheads, paintings, and other maritime artifacts. The Mariners’ Museum is home to the USS MonitorCenter, and is surrounded by the 550-acre Mariners’ Museum Park, the largest privately maintained park open to the public in North America. The Mariners’ Museum Library is the largest maritime library in the Western hemisphere. Because of the Museum’s world-class collection and its reputation for high-level exhibits and programs, in 1999, the U.S. Congress designated The Mariners’ Museum as one of only two maritime museums that comprise America’s National Maritime Museum. In an effort to provide access to the incredible stories told through the collection to all guests, admission to the Museum is only $1 per person. For hours and information, visit MarinersMuseum.org, call (757) 596-2222 or write to The Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606.