THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407220229
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Norfolk's Nauticus offers a magnificent view of Portsmouth. In fact, this city is the only real scenery visible from the new entertainment center. Thus, it seems rather strange that the other side of the Elizabeth River harbor is not identified on maps or other visual materials in the center.
The Hampton Roads Naval Museum on the second floor rather studiously avoids mention of Portsmouth although a substantial part of the exhibition area is devoted to the Monitor-Merrimack (CSS Virignia) ironclad battles and to the construction of the first battleship and the first aircraft carrier here.
The navy yard is indeed called the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, but visitors probably would be interested in knowing the yard is in Portsmouth, the city they are seeing across the river. From Nauticus, Portsmouth could be perceived as part of Norfolk by visitors who do not know local geography.
The second floor museum is a U.S. Navy installation, complete with an uniformed Navy man at the front desk. Maybe Portsmouth needs to suggest that the exhibits better reflect this city as an important part of the naval history they are portraying in the exhibits.
Nauticus may be a Norfolk project, but the Navy's museum should reflect history as it happened. And a lot of it happened in Portsmouth!
KEYWORDS: NAUTICUS NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER
by CNB