Off-Water Attractions
In Norfolk By The Sea

RUTH ROVNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

I

n the busy harbor in Norfolk,
cruise boats, tugboats, grace-
ful sailing yachts — even .a
replica of a Mississippi River
boat for tourists to explore — all
bob on the water.
Also on the waterfront is Nau-
ticus, the National Maritime Cen-
ter which is Norfolk's newest
attraction, opened in June 1994,
where visitors enjoy the interac-
tive displays and the varied ex-
hibits in this multi-level site
dedicated to maritime technolo-
gy.

Our guide, Harriet Collins, led
us through all the areas of the
house: the reception area, the ful-
ly furnished drawing room,
where several Havdalah spice
boxes and two Shabbat candles
were in a cabinet; the dining
room table with a massive table
that easily seated 12; the music
room, bedrooms, sitting rooms
and more.
As she led us through these
rooms, Ms. Collins pointed out
highlights and told us that 70
percent of the furnishings in the

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The Moses Myers home in Norfolk.

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$34
$40
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$33

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At Norfolk's naval base, the
world's largest, visitors not only
get to admire the Navy's exten-
sive fleet but can tour a cruiser
or destroyer.
For good reason, this city in the
tidewater area of Virginia calls
itself Norfolk by the Sea. With
the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic
Ocean, the Elizabeth River, this
is a city where water is a focal
point.
But Norfolk offers land-side
pleasures as well, including a top
art museum, a lush botanical gar-
den, 17th century homes and oth-
er historical sites.
Jewish Norfolk is another at-
traction. An especially unusual
site is the only public historic
home in the United States, which
focuses on the traditions of early
Jewish immigrants.
The Moses Myers House was
the residence of Norfolk's first
permanent Jewish settler, who
became one of the nation's first
millionaires and built his home
in 1792.
Conveniently located down-
town at 323 East Freemason
Street, the elegant Federal style
house is one of the city's top at-
tractions. It draws a wide variety
of tourists; and guided tours are
offered regularly.

house are original pieces which
belonged to the first generation
of the Myers family.
Visitors were impressed with
the opulence of the furnishings
and the original art work by
Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully,
and other notable American
artists.
Some were also curious about
this early Jewish family. 'There's
often curiosity about this," said
Ms. Collins after the tour ended.
"People ask how Moses Myers
was treated as a Jew in Norfolk
and whether he was religious and
other questions."
A guide and manager of the
house for the past 10 years, Ms.
Collins, a Norfolk native, has
greeted visitors from Israel,
Japan, Bagdad, South Africa,
Canada, Australia and from all
over the United States. This past
May alone, over 2500 people
toured the house.
Ms. Collins, who is not Jewish,
has learned much about Judaism
over the years. She knows the
major holidays of the Jewish cal-
endar, for example, and many
specific details about how
Passover, Chanukah and Sukkot
are observed.
That's because on these holi-
days, the Moses Myers House be-