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Hampton highlights new museum exhibit honoring Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind; city earmarks $1.5 million
Summary
Hampton officials celebrated a new exhibit at the Hampton History Museum honoring the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind and noted the city has retained about 10 acres of the former campus and set aside $1,500,000 for legacy and neighborhood investments.
Hampton Mayor Gray and city staff on March 1 recognized a new Hampton History Museum exhibit that documents the nearly 100-year history of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.
Brian Marquisey of the city’s marketing department told council members that the museum unveiled the exhibit on March 1 and described the school’s campus at 700 Shell Road near the border with Newport News. "Don't let history be forgotten," Marquisey said, describing community calls to preserve and record the school’s story.
The city retained roughly 10 acres of the former school site after the Hampton Economic Development Authority sold much of the property, Marquisey said, and city leaders set aside $1,500,000 to both honor the school’s legacy and invest in public assets and infrastructure for the surrounding neighborhood. Marquisey said engagement with alumni and neighbors began in early 2024 and included neighborhood meetings and alumni outreach.
The exhibit includes two-panel displays with photos and historical text and features full braille panels to improve accessibility for visitors. "We went from having one sentence in the entire museum about the school to having an entire exhibit," Marquisey said, quoting Joan Weaver, a community contributor to the project.
Mayor Gray said the effort is a first step and the city will continue work to create an on-site memorial and additional programming tied to the site.
