San Fernando Naval Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Museo Naval de San Fernando

Location	San Fernando, Spain
Coordinates	36°28′02″N 6°11′37″W / 36.4672°N 6.1936°W / 36.4672; -6.1936
Website	www.laisladelsur.com/museonaval/
Location of San Fernando Naval Museum
[edit on Wikidata]

The San Fernando Naval Museum (called Museo Naval de San Fernando in Spanish) is a cool place to visit in San Fernando, a town in Spain. It's a museum about the Spanish Navy and its amazing history in this area. The idea for a naval museum started way back in 1792, but the museum you see today first opened its doors on March 27, 1992. Its main goal is to share the exciting stories of the Spanish Navy with everyone.

History of the Museum

The idea for this museum came from a royal order on September 28, 1792. King Carlos IV wanted a special place in the military town of San Carlos. This place would have a library and collect all the natural science knowledge needed for the Navy.

Even though the idea started in 1792, the museum we know today didn't open until March 27, 1992. A few years later, on July 6, 1994, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain made their first official visit to the museum.

Exploring the Museum's Rooms

The museum has 21 different rooms that tell the story of Spanish military history. Here are some of the interesting ones:

Foyer: The Beginning

This is where you start your visit. It shows the original idea for the museum. You can see pictures of King Carlos III and Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán. They were important people who helped develop the Spanish Navy.

Underwater Archaeology: Hidden Treasures

In this room, you'll find objects that were found deep in the water. These items were brought up thanks to underwater archaeology. You can see old cannons, bullets, parts of ships, and even ancient anchors from Phoenician and Roman times. There's also an old diving suit, which shows how these underwater discoveries began!

Trafalgar: A Famous Battle

This small room tells the story of the Battle of Trafalgar. This big naval battle happened in 1805. You can see models of famous ships like the English ship HMS Victory and the Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno.

Marine Infantry: Soldiers of the Sea

Here, you'll learn about the history of the Marine Infantry. These are soldiers who serve with the Navy. You can see old uniforms, photographs, communication devices, and even a special recoilless cannon.

Exvotos: Sailors' Faith

Around the main round area of the Carlos III Building, you can see a collection of "exvotos marineros." These are special gifts given by sailors to show their religious faith and thanks to the Mother of God.

Folklore: Old Treasures

In the area before the central round room, you'll find some large and interesting objects. One special item is a clock that used to be in the church of the Arsenal de la Carraca. There's also an old carriage called "La Manolita," which was used by the Commander of the old Marine Training Headquarters.

Religious Items: Sacred History

This small room holds religious objects and statues. Most of these came from the Church of San Francisco in San Fernando.

Manoeuvre: Big Objects

In the covered courtyard of the building, there are many large items. A highlight is the first figurehead from the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano. A figurehead is a carved figure that used to be on the front of old sailing ships.

Stairs and Central Rotunda: Beautiful Design

The most striking parts here are the spiral stairs and the dome at the very top. As you walk, you can admire beautiful 18th-century tiles from Delft, Holland. This is the same place where the famous Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer was born!

Flag Roundabout: Battle Flags

On the second floor, around this roundabout, you'll see many battle flags from Navy ships. These flags tell stories of different battles and ships.

Uniforms and Decorations: Naval Heroes

This room displays many historical uniforms with their accessories and decorations. You can also see personal items that belonged to important naval figures. These include Lieutenant Commander Jaime Janer y Robinson, who was key in modern naval shooting, and Admiral Faustino Ruiz González.

Juan Sebastián Elcano: A Famous Explorer and Ship

This room is dedicated to both Juan Sebastián Elcano, the famous explorer, and the training ship of the Spanish Navy named after him. You can see maps showing all the training trips the ship has made. There are also important historical books.

Naval Weapons and Artillery: Power at Sea

Here, you can see different types of firearms, both small and large. There are also pictures of important people in naval artillery, like José González Hontoria.

Naval Chronology: Timeline of the Navy

This room is all about the history of the Spanish Navy. A large display explains, with pictures, the important events of the Navy throughout Spain's history.

Underwater Weapon: Torpedoes and Inventions

This section shows examples of underwater weapons. You'll find items dedicated to Narciso Monturiol and Isaac Peral, who were inventors of early submarines. There are also two torpedoes on display.

Aerial Weapon: Navy in the Sky

In the 20th-century Navy, air power became very important. This room features models of famous ships like the two Dédalos (a seaplane carrier and a aircraft carrier). You'll also see the aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias with its Harrier planes that can take off and land vertically. Finally, there's a display of different helicopters used by the Navy.

Models and Sailing Models: Miniature Ships

This room has amazing models of historical ships. You can see a model of an 18th-century frigate with 24 guns. There's also a beautiful collection of model sailing ships made from guaiacan wood.

The 20th Century Navy: Modern Changes

This room focuses on the Spanish Navy in the 20th century and all the big changes that happened. You'll see naval models and parts of ships, like naval compasses and other scientific tools used for sailing. A beautiful watercolor painting by Aledo, called Galera Real del siglo XVI, stands out here. There are also items that give a quick look at the Spanish Civil War. At the back of the room, you can see the combat flag of the armored cruiser Emperador Carlos V, which is one of the most important items in the museum.

See also

In Spanish: Museo Naval de San Fernando para niños