The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, May 13, 1996                   TAG: 9605100013
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   36 lines

STOP KNOCKING NAUTICUS

The people in this region, especially the citizens of Norfolk, have much to be proud of in the National Maritime Center - Nauticus. However, the way The Virginian-Pilot presents it in print, our citizens, and our visitors, would never know it.

The Business Weekly section (April 22) reported on efforts to attract visitors (and the jobs, business and taxes they bring) to our area. Nauticus is one of the principal attractions we have in the total package from Colonial Williamsburg to the seashore at Virginia Beach.

Despite its growing pains, Nauticus is doing what it was intended to do - attract visitors. Its worth to the city is far greater than merely the number of admissions. It reflects the close connection that we have with our Maritime Heritage, and our Navy is celebrated in the Hampton Roads Naval Museum on the 2nd floor.

Nauticus is an educational, cultural and entertainment resource for this entire area. What it needs is a more-positive and supportive view of this unique facility and not the sort of negativism reflected in your unfair and misleading headline (MetroNews front, April 16) about the changes in admission prices.

EDWARD W. WOLCOTT, president

Hampton Roads Naval

Historical Foundation

Norfolk, April 24, 1996 by CNB