Welcome to the BIC!
Closed July 4th and Labor Day weekends, Thanksgiving (Nov. 22nd - 25th), and December 22nd through January 1st.
Open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday through Saturday
Admission is free
Accessibility
Visitors in wheelchairs or with otherwise restricted mobility are welcome to the Barrier Islands Center. The Museum Building and the Education Building have ramps available for wheelchair or walker access. Many of the museum exhibits are on the 2nd floor, which does not offer wheelchair access at this time. Visitors who are unable to ascend the stairs may view an Upstairs Gallery Tour video, one or more of the BIC's documentary films, sit and chat with us downstairs or browse the galleries through our iPad Virtual Tour.
The BIC is for all ages!
BIC is a family-friendly place. Children are encouraged to visit, explore, build on our lego tables, dig in our "fossil pit," or play croquet on the lawn. Picnic tables and benches are located on the Quarter Kitchen patio, and visitors are welcome to bring snacks or lunch. (Machipongo Trading Company is located directly across Route 13 in case you’d like to pick up a coffee, smoothie, salad, or sandwich!)
Group Tours
The Barrier Islands Center welcomes group tours and can accommodate groups with advance notice. Tours can be customized to your group's needs and interests and may include: a screening of one of the BIC documentary films, a lecture by a local historian, a guided tour of exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, a box lunch, and more. Please contact us to arrange your group tour today.
The street address for GPS is 7295 Young Street, Machipongo, VA.
The BIC is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, just 20 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and 10 miles south of the town of Exmore, between mile markers 90 and 91 on the western side of Route 13.
The entrance to the driveway is on Young Street, directly across the highway from the Machipongo Trading Company, where you can stop for coffee, smoothies, or lunch if your historic visit has left you feeling a little hungry.
Look for the brown historical information signs as well as the red buoy and Barrier Islands Center sign.
Field Trips
We’re all about making learning fun here at the BIC, and our field trips are a prime example. From the very youngest of students in the My First Field Trip program to graduate-level programs, students of all ages and levels are welcome to explore and engage. BIC would be happy to customize a learning experience for your school group. Contact the Director of Education, Traci Jones, to schedule a field trip for your school group!
