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{{Text hero
|title=Old Dominion University
|subtitle=Virginia attraction guide
|kind=attraction
}}
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{{Attraction header
|name=Old Dominion University
|image=
|alt=
|kicker=NORFOLK CAMPUS & UNIVERSITY HISTORY
|summary=A working university campus in Norfolk, where ODU’s story stretches from a 1930 extension of William & Mary to a major Hampton Roads institution.
}}
</div>

{{Attraction quick facts
|label1=Location
|value1=[[Norfolk, Virginia]]
|label2=Founded
|value2=1930
|label3=Campus
|value3=Norfolk
|label4=Visitor information
|value4=Campus tours, maps, and parking guidance online
}}
<div class="vw-attraction-intro">
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a large, active university campus in Norfolk, not a stand-alone historic attraction. A visit offers a look at university life and the institution’s Hampton Roads roots: ODU opened in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, then became an independent college in 1962 and a university in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/historyandarchives |title=History & Archives |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

Plan ahead if you want a guided visit: the university’s visitor guide links to campus maps, tours, directions, and parking information, while its virtual tour offers a self-paced look around campus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/visit-campus |title=Visit Campus |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref> ODU is a working campus, so access to individual buildings and facilities can depend on schedules and university policies.
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{{Book destination
|destination=VA-OLD-DOMINION-UNIVERSITY
|name=Old Dominion University
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|destination=VA-OLD-DOMINION-UNIVERSITY
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== Why visit Old Dominion University? ==
ODU gives visitors a different perspective on Norfolk: a modern academic campus with a history tied to the growth of higher education in Hampton Roads. It began as a two-year extension of William & Mary and, over time, developed into an independent university with undergraduate and graduate programs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/historyandarchives |title=History & Archives |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

It is best approached as a campus stroll, a scheduled university visit, or a stop connected with a particular event—not as a museum where every building is open to the public. ODU’s official visitor resources are the place to check for tour availability, maps, and current access details.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/visit-campus/visitors-guide |title=Visitor's Guide |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

== Start here ==
Begin with ODU’s visitor guide and campus map to choose a route and understand where you can go. If a guided tour is important to your visit, check the university’s current tour options and request process in advance; submitting a request does not itself guarantee confirmation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/visit-campus |title=Visit Campus |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

For a historical starting point, look at the university’s timeline: the Norfolk Division opened in 1930, became Old Dominion College in 1962, and adopted the name Old Dominion University in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/facts-and-figures |title=University Facts & Figures |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

== What to see and do ==
<div class="vw-attraction-card-grid">
{{Attraction card
|title=Explore the campus virtually
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Use ODU’s official 360-degree campus tour to preview academic buildings, residence halls, and student-life spaces before visiting in person.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Visit Webb University Center
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Webb Center is a major student-life hub. ODU Libraries’ history exhibit traces its origins to the 1960s and its role in the evolving campus.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Follow ODU’s institutional timeline
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Read about the university’s transition from a William & Mary division to Old Dominion College and, later, Old Dominion University.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Attend a campus event
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Lectures, performances, and athletic events can offer a reason to visit. Check the university’s current event and venue information before making plans.
}}
{{Attraction card
|title=Plan a guided campus visit
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Consult ODU’s visit page for tour details and the current request process; tour dates and availability may vary.
}}
</div>

== History and significance ==
Old Dominion began on September 12, 1930, as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. Its first classes were held in the former Larchmont School on Hampton Boulevard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute added engineering instruction the following year, reflecting the school’s early role in providing local access to higher education.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/historyandarchives/75-great-moments |title=75 Great Moments in ODU History |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

The institution grew from a two-year division into a four-year college, gained independence in 1962, and took the name Old Dominion University in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/historyandarchives |title=History & Archives |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref> Lewis W. Webb Jr., who joined the faculty in 1932 and later led the Norfolk Division and Old Dominion College, was a central figure in that development. Webb University Center, named in recognition of his service, became a campus gathering place after opening in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://exhibits.lib.odu.edu/exhibits/show/buildings/webb-center-1966 |title=Webb Center 1966 |website=ODU Libraries Online Exhibitions |publisher=Old Dominion University Libraries |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

The university’s campus and academic role have continued to expand. ODU’s facts-and-figures page describes its main campus as 335 acres and records the 2024 integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School into the university.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/about/facts-and-figures |title=University Facts & Figures |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

== Planning a visit ==
ODU is in Norfolk. Use the official visitor guide for directions, campus maps, and tour information, and confirm any planned building visit or event directly with the university. The campus is an active educational environment, and not every building or space should be assumed to be open to casual visitors.

If driving, review the university’s visitor-parking page before arrival. ODU requires visitors to use an eligible permit or paid parking option, and payment and parking rules vary by location; check the current instructions, rates, and restrictions before leaving your vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/transportation-parking-services/parking/visitor-parking |title=Visitor Parking |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref> The university also publishes parking maps to help visitors locate lots and garages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.odu.edu/transportation-parking-services/parking/map-old |title=Parking Map |website=Old Dominion University |publisher=Old Dominion University |access-date=2026-10-24}}</ref>

== Nearby attractions ==
<div class="vw-attraction-nearby-grid">
{{Nearby card
|title=Explore Norfolk
|link=Norfolk, Virginia
|text=Find the city’s museums, waterfront, and other visitor destinations beyond campus.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Chrysler Museum of Art
|link=Chrysler Museum of Art
|text=A Norfolk art museum for visitors looking to add a cultural stop to a campus-area outing.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Elizabeth River waterfront
|link=Elizabeth River waterfront
|text=Explore Norfolk’s riverfront setting and nearby public destinations.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Nauticus
|link=Nauticus
|text=A maritime and science-focused attraction on Norfolk’s downtown waterfront.
}}
</div>

<div class="vw-amazon-flow">
'''Travel books and maps:''' [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Old%20Dominion%20University%20Virginia%20travel%20guide%20map&tag=virginiawiki-20 Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon]
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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.odu.edu/visit-campus Visit Campus — Old Dominion University]
* [https://www.odu.edu/visit-campus/visitors-guide Visitor's Guide — Old Dominion University]
* [https://www.odu.edu/about/historyandarchives History & Archives — Old Dominion University]
* [https://www.odu.edu/transportation-parking-services/parking/visitor-parking Visitor Parking — Old Dominion University]
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[[Category:Education in Virginia]]
[[Category:Attractions in Virginia]]

Old Dominion University - Revision history

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