Nauticus Nauticus is a maritime - themed science center and museum located on the downtown waterfront in Norfolk , Virginia . History . Nauticus was incorporated under the National Maritime Center Authority in February 1988 . The following month , Rear Admiral Jackson Knowles Parker USN , ( Ret ) , retired commander of Norfolk Naval Base , became the Founding Executive Director . Construction began at the former site of Norfolk ' s " Banana Pier " on the downtown Norfolk Waterfront in February 1992 and Nauticus opened to the public in June 1994 . Other attractions close by include the Virginia Zoo , Norfolk Scope and Harbor Park , home to the Norfolk Tides . Campus . Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center . The City of Norfolk opened the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center — located at Nauticus on April 7 , 2007 . The , passenger - friendly facility features views of the Elizabeth River ; an enclosed , elevated passenger gangway ; a retractable bridge leading into a 16 - slip marina ; a terrazzo floor tile in the entrance ; a separate lounge and check - in area for cruise line VIP passengers ; a security - focused Customs and Border Protection area and an embarkation stations . Its first passenger ship , RCI ' s " Empress of the Seas " , arrived on April 28 , 2007 . The Half Moone also serves as an event venue with approximately of event spaces , each of which include interpretation and exhibits . Among the areas available for special event rental are the Bermuda Room , which displays artifacts and objects that tell the historic connections between Virginia and Bermuda ; the Half Moone Vista , which includes some facts about the original fort ; and the Lido and Promenade Decks , which address functions of those traditional decks on board cruise ships . The name — Half Moone — is taken from the name of the fort that was built on the same site in 1673 in the form of a " half moone . " The fort was built to protect Norfolk ' s burgeoning maritime industry . USS " Wisconsin " ( BB - 64 ) . One of the largest battleships ever built arrived at Nauticus on the downtown Norfolk waterfront on December 7 , 2000 . That date was significant because it marked the 57th anniversary of the USS " Wisconsin ' s " launching in 1943 – two years to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor . The USS " Wisconsin " opened for main deck tours on April 16 , 2001 . That date marked the 57th anniversary of the ship ' s commissioning in 1944 . The USS " Wisconsin " , one of four Iowa - class battleships constructed by the U . S . Navy , was built from 1941 to 1943 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and commissioned in 1944 . She played a major role in World War II , earning five battle stars for service against Japanese forces . She served during the Korean War , and led the Navy ’ s surface attack on Iraq during the Persian Gulf War in 1991 , firing not only her first but also the campaign ' s first Tomahawk Missile . She was decommissioned at Philadelphia and retired to the Naval Inactive Reserve Fleet in Portsmouth , Virginia , in October 1996 . On April 16 , 2010 , exactly 66 years from the day she was commissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , the United States Navy ceremoniously transferred ownership of the vessel to the city of Norfolk , Virginia . Vice Admiral David Architzel joined Mayor Paul Fraim , other city and military leaders , and former crew members on deck to conduct the ceremony . VADM Architzel presented the long glass to Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim signifying that the Mayor now has the watch . By the end of November 2009 , more than 2 , 495 , 296 visitors have walked the teak decks of historic BB - 64 . These visitors have come from all fifty U . S . states and from many other nations to experience the awesome battleship . Exhibits . The museum features hands - on exhibits , interactive theaters , aquaria , digital high - definition films and an extensive variety of educational programs . Nauticus has a high - definition large screen theater and shows several nautically - related films on a rotating basis . The second floor of Nauticus houses the Hampton Roads Naval Museum . On the third floor of Nauticus , guests can view a variety of science and maritime exhibits , including : aquaria , a horseshoe crab touch tank , shark lab , Science On a Sphere , NOAA exhibits , interactive theaters and a weather station .