National Museum of the United States Navy facts for kids

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U.S. Navy Museum
U.S. Navy Museum logo
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Established	1961; 64 years ago (1961)
Location	736 Sicard St SE, Washington, DC 20374
Type	United States Navy
Public transit access	Navy Yard – Ballpark

The National Museum of the United States Navy, also known as the U.S. Navy Museum, is the main museum of the United States Navy. It's located in Washington, D.C., inside the historic Washington Navy Yard. This museum is a special place where you can learn all about the Navy's exciting history.

It's one of ten official Navy museums across the country. The U.S. Navy Museum is part of the Naval History & Heritage Command, which is the official group that keeps track of the Navy's history.

What the Museum Does

The U.S. Navy Museum collects, protects, and shows off amazing historic Navy items and artwork. Its goal is to teach and inspire everyone, from Navy members to the general public. It helps people understand the Navy's important role throughout history.

A Look at the Museum's History

Bridge of the USS Fletcher at the museum

The U.S. Navy Museum first opened its doors in 1963. It was created in 1961. Among the 15 Navy museums in the country, this one is unique. It's the only one that tells the full story of U.S. naval history.

The museum has both permanent and special exhibits. These exhibits celebrate Navy heroes and famous battles. They also show the Navy's peaceful work. This includes exploration, diplomacy, space flight, and helping people around the world.

For 40 years, the U.S. Navy Museum has been known as the Navy's main museum. It continues a long tradition of teaching the public. The museum's collection started way back in 1800. It has moved a couple of times.

Admiral Arleigh Burke helped create the current museum in 1963. He wanted an American naval history museum that was as good as those in Europe. The U.S. Navy Museum still follows his idea. It shares the Navy's history and traditions with everyone.

Collecting Navy items began in the early 1800s. The first item was a French gun from 1793. It was captured during a conflict with France. As the Navy fought more battles, the collection grew.

In 1865, a special building opened to show these items. It was called the Museum of Naval Relics and Weapons. This was one of America's first federal museums. Visitors could see things like a gun from Hernan Cortés. They could also see a piece of the ship Kearsarge. This piece still had a shell from its fight with the Alabama.

Later, in 1913, the museum moved again. The items were stored for eight years after that building was torn down. In 1935, a third museum opened. After World War II, Admiral Burke got the whole building in 1961. He wanted to create a bigger and better museum.

Today, the U.S. Navy Museum is the only one that covers the Navy's history from start to present. You can see amazing things there. These include a fighting top from the USS Constitution. You can also see the Trieste, which is a deep-diving submarine. The uniform of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is also on display.

About 94,000 people visit the museum each year. It's free to get in and attend its programs. The museum is also easy to access for people with disabilities.

Visiting the U.S. Navy Museum

A view of the U.S. Navy Museum from Willard Park. Periscopes from the submarine exhibit are visible.

The U.S. Navy Museum and the Cold War Gallery are open to the public. They closed for a time during the COVID-19 pandemic. They reopened on June 1, 2021.

Since the museum is on a military base, visitors need to show a valid ID. You can also visit if you are with someone who has military ID. Or, you can get a special day pass at the visitor's center. Inside the museum, you can see a fighting top from the USS Constitution. There's also a statue of Boatswain's Mate Charles W. Riggin. This statue was made from melted dimes.

Willard Park

Willard Park is located between the museum and the waterfront. It's named after Admiral Arthur L. Willard. The park has many old iron guns on display. You can also see a propeller from the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57). There's a 6-inch gun from the battleship USS Maine. A special titanium sphere from the Alvin undersea vehicle is also there. You can also find the Swift Boat PCF-1. A huge 14-inch/50-caliber railway gun from World War I is also on display.

Exciting Permanent Exhibits

Dive! Dive! U.S. Navy Submarines

This big room is all about the history of American submarines. You can see real working periscopes. There are also targeting computers and battle flags.

The American Revolution and the French Alliance

Learn about the Navy's early, tough beginnings near the museum entrance. This exhibit has a video, old weapons, and pictures of early American Navy heroes.

Forgotten Wars of the 1800s

This exhibit shows items from several conflicts. These include the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812. It also covers the Mexican–American War. The main part of this exhibit is a copy of the USS Constitution gun deck.

Civil War

The Civil War exhibit shows the warships and gear used by sailors. You can see models of famous ironclad ships. These include the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. Models of the CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge (1861) are also on display.

Spanish–American War

This exhibit tells the story of the battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) sinking. It explains how this event led to the United States becoming a global power. You can see weapons and items from that time. There's also a model of the unique USS Vesuvius (1888). Admiral George Dewey's uniform is also here.

Polar Exploration

Learn about Admiral Richard Byrd's trip to the South Pole in 1928. The exhibit uses photos and equipment from his journey.

Navigation

This small exhibit explains how sailors have found their way at sea for centuries. It shows different navigation tools. The room is full of old maps, clocks, and weather equipment.

U.S. Navy in World War I

This exhibit covers the Navy's short but important role in the First World War. It explains how they hunted submarines. You can see models of warships from that time. There's also a captured German flag and videos of a Navy railway gun.

In Harm's Way: The Navy in World War II

This is the biggest part of the museum. It's divided into three sections.

The Atlantic Theater: This part shows how convoys were protected. It tells the story of capturing the U-505 submarine. You can also learn about breaking the German Enigma code. It highlights the role of the United States Merchant Marine. Weapons and equipment from both sides are on display. You can see cannons, rifles, and a high-altitude flying suit. The diving log of U-505 is also here.
The Home Front: This exhibit looks like an old storefront. It has a small theater showing a World War II film. It's decorated with patriotic posters. You can also see models used to identify aircraft. The role of WAVES (women in the Navy) is also explained.
The Pacific Theater: This area is huge. It has a full-size copy of the bridge from the destroyer USS Fletcher. There are four gun batteries. You can see an FG-1D Corsair plane. A Japanese MXY7 Ohka kamikaze aircraft is also on display. There are even two atomic bomb casings. Models of the carrier USS Leyte (CV-32) and battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) are also here. Each model is about twenty feet long!

Korea 1950–1953: The Navy in the Forgotten War

This exhibit focuses on the Korean War. It has uniforms and equipment. Videos and other items help bring this often-overlooked war to life. You can see captured Soviet weapons. There are also models of aircraft and warships. A piece of the Inchon seawall is also on display.

Other Cool Exhibits

The display of Trieste at the museum's Undersea Exploration exhibit.

The deep-diving vehicle Trieste is a highlight of the Undersea Exploration exhibit. There's also a small exhibit on the Steel Navy (1883–1909). Another exhibit covers the Battle of Trafalgar. It includes a short film about naval artillery.

Future Plans

In 2020, the United States Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth Braithwaite, announced plans for a new museum. This new National Museum of the United States Navy will be designed and built. Construction is planned for around 2025. It will be located near the Washington Navy Yard. But it will be outside the secure area. This means visitors won't need special passes to enter.

Other Navy Museums to Explore

There are nine other official Navy museums:

Hampton Roads Naval Museum – Norfolk, VA
National Museum of the American Sailor – Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
National Naval Aviation Museum – Pensacola, FL
Naval Undersea Museum – Keyport, WA
Naval War College Museum – Newport, RI
Puget Sound Navy Museum – Bremerton, WA
Submarine Force Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus – Groton, CT
U.S. Naval Academy Museum – Annapolis, MD
U.S. Navy Seabee Museum – Port Hueneme, CA

Some other museums that are not on the official list include:

National Museum of the Surface Navy on Battleship USS Iowa - Los Angeles, CA
U.S. Navy Memorial Museum – Washington, DC
USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") – Boston, MA
Navy Art Collection – Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC
USS Cavalla Submarine & USS Stewart Destroyer Escort - Seawolf Park Galveston Naval Museum, Galveston, TX