Whether its the three masted sloops in the harbor, the horse drawn carriages, the old neighborhoods or the street strollers in period costume; a visit here is like a trip back through three centuries of historic Portsmouth. The kids will not be unhappy if you take them to the Children's museum here. The kids can engage in hands-on activity as they explore the replica of the bustling waterfront area. The younger kids will enjoy being let loose in the Tot Yard and they will go crazy when they see the Lancaster Antique Train and Toy Collection. This looks like a train depot from which visitors are guided by railway tracks to the main Lancaster exhibit and collection where there is a layout of the state of Virginia with geographical features for the the cities of Portsmouth, Roanoke and Richmond and the the Blue Ridge mountains. The layout is delightful for railroad buffs and children to watch with 8 mainlines in operation and approximately 500 people, approximately 200 animals and over 1000 trees represented.