The Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio

The museum owes much of its collection to Walter P. Chrysler Jr., son of the automobile magnate, who spent a lifetime as a passionate and discerning collector. In 1971 he gave the bulk of his collection to the Norfolk museum, which had been founded decades earlier, transforming a good regional institution into one of national stature and taking on his name.

Chrysler's tastes ranged widely, and the collection reflects that: European Old Masters, American painting, ancient art, sculpture, photography, and decorative arts all share the galleries. But it was his love of glass above all that shaped the museum's identity, and Norfolk has built on that foundation ever since, expanding the collection and, crucially, adding a place to make glass rather than only to admire it.

The Chrysler Glass Studio, opened in 2011 across the street from the main building, is a genuine hot shop, with furnaces glowing at temperatures hot enough to keep glass liquid. Skilled artists gather the molten material, blow and turn and tool it, and coax it into vases, sculptures, and vessels while visitors watch from bleacher seating, close enough to feel the heat.

Glassmaking is one of the oldest crafts humans practice, and there is something hypnotic about seeing it done live: the glowing gather, the steady turning of the pipe, the moment a shapeless blob becomes a form. The studio hosts resident artists and visiting masters, offers classes, and stages performances, making the Chrysler one of the few great art museums where the making of art is as much on display as the art itself.

While glass draws the headlines, the Chrysler's broader collection rewards a slow walk. The galleries hold European paintings across the centuries, American works, ancient Egyptian and classical art, and a notable photography collection, arranged in handsome light-filled rooms. It is a museum with real depth, the kind you might expect in a much larger city.

The building itself, an Italianate structure enlarged and refined over the years, sits gracefully on the Hague, a small tidal inlet in the Ghent neighborhood. That waterside setting, with the museum reflected in the calm water, gives a visit a serene, unhurried feel quite different from a big-city institution.

Norfolk is the historic heart of Hampton Roads, one of the world's great natural harbors and home to the largest naval base in the country. The city's waterfront, its downtown, and the tree-lined streets of Ghent surround the museum, and the Elizabeth River carries a constant traffic of ships, tugs, and pleasure boats.

A Chrysler visit fits easily into a wider coastal Virginia trip. The beaches of Virginia Beach lie a short drive east, the shipbuilding and maritime heritage of the region runs deep, and the walkable Ghent district around the museum offers restaurants, cafes, and independent shops for an easy afternoon.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio, in Norfolk on the Virginia coast, is a highly regarded art museum with a wide-ranging and distinguished collection, famous especially for its outstanding glass collection. The museum's galleries span ancient to modern art, including paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from many cultures and eras, while its renowned glass collection and adjacent Glass Studio, where visitors can watch live glassblowing demonstrations, are highlights. Admission is typically free. With its excellent art collection, celebrated glass, and live glassblowing, The Chrysler Museum of Art offers an inspiring destination in Norfolk, Virginia.

You can view a distinguished collection spanning ancient to contemporary art, including European and American paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts, art from many world cultures, and one of the finest glass collections in the country, and you can watch live glassblowing demonstrations at the adjacent Glass Studio. The celebrated glass collection and the live glassmaking are special highlights. Special exhibitions add to the offerings. Admission is typically free. With its wide-ranging art, world-class glass, and live glassblowing, The Chrysler Museum of Art offers an engaging and inspiring visit in Norfolk, Virginia.

Yes, one of the highlights of The Chrysler Museum of Art is its Glass Studio, where visitors can watch live glassblowing demonstrations as skilled artists shape molten glass into beautiful works, offering a mesmerizing and educational experience that complements the museum's renowned glass collection. Demonstration times vary, so checking the current schedule before you go is wise to catch one. The studio also offers classes and events. Watching the live glassmaking is a memorable part of a visit, making The Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio a unique destination in Norfolk, Virginia.

As an indoor museum, The Chrysler Museum of Art is enjoyable year-round in any weather, making it a great stop in any season, though checking current days and hours before you go is wise since it may be closed some days, and timing a visit to catch a live glassblowing demonstration at the Glass Studio adds to the experience. Weekdays tend to be quieter. With free admission and its climate-controlled galleries, The Chrysler Museum of Art makes a reliable and rewarding stop any time of year in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio is in Norfolk on the Virginia coast, near downtown Norfolk's waterfront and attractions, within reach of the Virginia Aquarium and First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, and Fort Monroe and Hampton across Hampton Roads. That makes The Chrysler Museum a inspiring stop to combine with the Virginia Aquarium, the Virginia Beach and Norfolk waterfronts, and the other attractions of coastal Virginia on a visit to the state.