Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum at the de Witt Cottage
Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum at the de Witt Cottage is a attraction in Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, best for history buffs, art lovers, a quick Boardwalk detour.
Built in 1895 as a wedding gift from Bernard Peabody Holland — Virginia Beach's first mayor — to his bride, the de Witt Cottage is the oldest remaining private structure on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, occupied by the de Witt family from 1909 until 1988 and listed on the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places. Since 1995 it has housed the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, tracing the evolution of decoy carving from primitive working tools to today's elaborate contemporary art, alongside hunt-club memorabilia, interactive computer exhibits, and original paintings. Volunteer carvers work on-site daily, so visitors can watch the craft happen in real time. Hours run Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm and Sunday noon–5pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, shifting to Tuesday–Saturday (same hours) the rest of the year — closed Mondays outside summer.
- Hidden Gem
- Family Friendly
Amenities
- Decoy carving art collection
- Daily volunteer carving demonstrations
- Interactive computer exhibits
- Historic 1895 cottage architecture
Know Before You Go
- Best for: history buffs, art lovers, a quick Boardwalk detour
- Parking: Oceanfront municipal parking nearby; no dedicated lot.
- Accessibility: Historic 1895 cottage; contact the museum at (757) 437-8432 for current accessibility details.
- Dogs: not allowed
- Location: 1113 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-11.
More Attractions Nearby
Old Coast Guard Station
Wedged between Boardwalk high-rises at 24th Street sits a small 1903 Life-Saving Station — the Old Coast Guard Station, a museum on the National Register of…
- Hidden Gem
ViBe Creative District Mural Walk
A free, self-guided open-air gallery spread across the ViBe Creative District's streets, fences, and sidewalks: large-scale wall murals, the rotating community…
- Free
- Family Friendly
- Hidden Gem
Brock Environmental Center
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world — holding both LEED Platinum and full Living…
- Hidden Gem
Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment)
At 67th Street and Atlantic Avenue, a few blocks past the hotels of the Resort Strip, sits the world headquarters of the Association for Research and…
- Free
- Hidden Gem
While You're in the Area
Abbey Road Pub & Restaurant
Beatles-themed pub a block off the beach at 22nd Street — 42 taps, live music, a dog-friendly patio, and a Monday military discount.
- Dog Friendly
- Live Music
- Outdoor Seating
- Military Discount
Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski
Virginia Beach's original watersports operator since 1985 — parasailing, jet ski and kayak/SUP rentals, and banana boat rides at Rudee Inlet.
AquaMan Sportfishing Charters
Two-boat Rudee Inlet charter operation — The Flat Line and The Game On — running inshore, nearshore, and offshore deep-sea trips around the clock.
Barclay Cottage Inn
The oldest lodging in Virginia Beach still open to guests — an 1895 cottage with five rooms and wrap-around porches two blocks from the boardwalk.
- Hidden Gem
Barclay Towers Resort Hotel
All-suite Boardwalk tower at 9th Street — 138 two-room suites, every one with a full kitchen and ocean-view balcony, plus a heated indoor pool.
- Family Friendly
- Waterfront
Bay Venture Boat Rentals
Self-drive 24-foot pontoon boat rentals for exploring Linkhorn Bay, Broad Bay, and the Lynnhaven Inlet — no boater's license required.
- Hidden Gem
Upcoming Events Nearby
Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026 · annual
The Neptune Festival's 11th annual beer afternoon takes over 31st Street Park with more than 60 beers from around 30 breweries, heavy on the coastal Virginia scene. Two bands play through the 3–8pm session and local food trucks handle the eating. It's a compact, single-day festival — an easy add-on to a mid-August beach day, a block off the boardwalk at Neptune's Park.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23, 2026 – August 30, 2026 · annual
The world's oldest continuously running surfing competition returns for its 64th year, turning the south end of the Oceanfront — from the 1st Street Jetty up to 10th Street — into a week-long surf carnival. More than 850 competitors surf pro and amateur divisions, including a WSL qualifying event, while the beach fills out with skate and BMX demos, live music, and tournament games. It's the anchor event of late summer at the beach and the best week of the year to watch serious surfing at the 1st Street break.
Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party
August 28, 2026 – August 29, 2026 · annual
A free two-day beach party on the Oceanfront closing out August with funk, R&B, and soul acts on the sand. Part of the official Beach Events season, Funk Fest draws a big, dance-heavy crowd to the resort beach for one of the last major music weekends before Labor Day — no ticket needed, just claim a patch of sand.