At the end of August we made a trek downtown to Nauticus—a maritime museum. It’s on the water in Norfolk, and admission includes tours of the USS Wisconsin, which is moored directly behind the huge three story building.

It has live animals like a small shark tank and horseshoe crabs, a science and weather area, and a plethora of displays related to Navy history. (We didn’t go aboard the Wisconsin, due to a small problem I have with small spaces….we’ll go back with Matt sometime and I’ll sit in the café while they have at it.)

The kids’ favorite thing by far in the whole place was a ROV station, where they were handed four motors, a bunch of PVC pipe and fittings and told to build a remote-operated vehicle for exploring the bottom of a water tank nearby. The only hint she gave them was that square or rectangular shapes worked best. With flying elbows and popping pipe sounds, these three had a model together lickety-split. The station supervisor came over at attached the larger floats to the top, and walked them over to the tank where she plugged their remotes into a battery.

I’ll be darned if the thing didn’t work great. It could go forward, backward, and side-to-side, catching the rings that were at the bottom of the tank. Everyone (including Jet and Momma) had to take a turn maneuvering the ROV in the water.

It was a great morning of science fun, and we will definitely be back. If for no other reason than to try to get a dignified picture with this statue outside that is truly heart-warming when not subjected to the drama that IS called Weems.

Me: I love this statue. It’s a Daddy coming home. Can’t you all just stand there and give a sweet smile?

Ransom: The thing’s obscene. They shouldn’t be hugging like that in public.

Memphis: Oh, take my picture hugging it. (hugs the statue) Daddy! I miss you!

Jet: If I smile or hug it, can I get a happy meal?

Who knows where Cora Jo is.

*Click*

~By the way, Nauticus has no idea who we are. We got our tix through a Groupon offer.~