Patuxent River Naval Air Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Established	1975
Location	Lexington Park, Maryland, U.S.
Type	Naval aviation museum

The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is an exciting place in Lexington Park, Maryland. It first opened its doors in 1978. This museum helps us understand and remember the history of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. It shows how the US Navy has made amazing progress in aviation technology. You can see real artifacts, old photographs, films, and other cool items. The museum is dedicated to all the talented people who worked hard to test and improve naval aircraft.

The Museum's Story

In late 1974, a group of people started planning this museum. They created the necessary paperwork to make it an official organization. On March 14, 1975, the Naval Air Test and Evaluation Museum (NATEM) Association became a non-profit group in Maryland.

In 1976, the Navy provided the museum with its current building and land in Lexington Park, Maryland. The museum then opened to the public in July 1978. That same year, the Secretary of the Navy recognized it as one of the ten official Navy museums. However, around 2016, the museum lost this official title. This happened because of changes in how the federal government managed its budget.

New Additions and Exhibits

In 2015, the museum received a large mural. This artwork had been on display at the officer's club of the nearby naval air station.

On May 28, 2016, the museum opened a brand new building. In 2018, a new facility was added to help manage and store the museum's collections. A special exhibit about anthropometrics (the study of human body measurements) opened in January 2025. In March 2025, the museum leased a nearby event space that is about 6,500 square feet (600 m2). The following month, in April 2025, it opened another temporary exhibit. This one was all about the Naval Test Pilots School.

Museum Buildings

The museum has three main buildings. Buildings A and B are used as exhibit galleries. This is where you can see all the cool displays. Building C is used for storing the museum's collections.

Amazing Aircraft on Display

The Lockheed Martin X-35C on display

Outdoor display at the museum in 2003

The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum has many different types of aircraft on display. These planes and helicopters show the history of naval aviation. Some are indoors, and others are outside for you to explore.

See Also

• List of maritime museums in the United States
• Naval Amphibious Training Base Solomons