Norfolk State University: Woods Museum in Norfolk, VA was founded in 1935. Started during the Great Depression, this college gave the youth a feeling of hope and a way to express their hopes and plans for the future. It changed names many times from the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University to Norfolk Polytechnic College to Virginia State College. It wasn't until 1956 that Norfolk was able to offer students an Bachelor's degree. In 1969, they became separate from Virginia State College and became a university. Today they are the nation's largest predominantly black university. Norfolk State University is a university that offers graduate and undergraduate level programs.
Some of the very different programs available at Norfolk State University are School of Business, School of Science and Technology, School of Education, School of Liberal Arts and School of Social Work. Norfolk State University is surrounded by Virginia Beach right in the area of Tidewater, as well as Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth and Newport News. This is an extremely cultural and recreational region. There is a campus shuttle available for students and visitors.
The Lois E. Woods Museum, as part of the Norfolk State University, has a 10,000 square foot exhibit area. This exhibit area is used to house and display their vast collection of African art. This African art is from 14 different countries representing a total of 40 different cultures and groups. The Lois E. Woods Museum also has a reference library with over 400 books on African culture, history and folklore.
