Source: United States Navy
221018-N-FK318-1064 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD (Oct. 18, 2022) Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speaks to audience members at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy (NMUSN) during a ceremony celebrating the Navy’s 247th birthday. During the ceremony, Del Toro announced the U.S. Navy’s preferred location for a new NMUSN, which would be on land adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard that would be acquired either through a land exchange or direct purchase. This would allow the museum to offer the general public unfettered access to U.S. Navy history and heritage. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Abigayle Lutz)
The Navy’s preferred location for the new NMUSN would be on land adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard that would be acquired either through a land exchange or direct purchase. This would allow the museum to offer the general public unfettered access to U.S. Navy history and heritage.
“The exhibits of this new museum will create a living memorial to the U.S. Navy’s heritage of victory and valor, bringing to life the human experiences of serving at sea,” said Del Toro. “It will give all the visitors of the future museum – regardless of their previous military experience – a greater appreciation and understanding of the economic and diplomatic importance of what a strong and robust Navy means to our national and economic security.”
221018-N-FK318-1142 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD (Oct. 18, 2022) Navy Museum Development Foundation (NMDF) Board President Al Konetzni, U.S. Navy vice admiral (retired), Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired), Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Yeoman 2nd Class Caroline Ficklin, assigned to NHHC, cut the Navy birthday cake at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy (NMUSN) during an event celebrating the Navy’s 247th birthday. During the ceremony, Del Toro announced the U.S. Navy’s preferred location for a new NMUSN, which would be on land adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard that would be acquired either through a land exchange or direct purchase. This would allow the museum to offer the general public unfettered access to U.S. Navy history and heritage. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Abigayle Lutz)
The Navy is seeking to obtain approximately six acres of land immediately outside the Tingey Gate at the Washington Navy Yard to improve the installation’s security posture. The Department of the Navy is now moving forward with consultations and public involvement required by the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 14, 2022, to solicit public comments on acquisition of the property and proposed uses of the land. The Navy will consider comments received during the public comment period and prepare the Final Environmental Impact Statement before issuing a Record of Decision on how the land will be acquired and used.
“The NMUSN Campus would serve as an educational, inspirational, cultural and ceremonial center for those who have served and are serving in the Navy today,” said Naval History and Heritage Command Director Sam Cox, a retired rear admiral. “This is an exciting, tangible step toward realizing Navy Leadership’s long-held vision to build a state-of-the-art museum that shares with the American public the incredible history of their nation’s Navy.”
An artist’s rendering of the new National Museum of the U.S. Navy (NMUSN). On Oct. 13, 2020 the Navy announced its plan to build a new NMUSN campus which will serve as an educational, inspirational, cultural and ceremonial center for those who have served, and are serving in the Navy today. The exhibits in the advanced museum will demonstrate to the public the critical role a strong Navy plays in the defense of the nation. The Navy is partnering with the National Navy Museum Development Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, to raise the estimated $225M for construction of phase one of the state-of-the-art facility with opportunities for spiral development of additional phases totaling $450M. The Navy plans to build the new museum campus on M Street, adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard, as part of the vibrant Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District. (U.S. Navy rendering/RELEASED)
The Navy has partnered with the Navy Museum Development Foundation to assist with the development, design, construction, renovation, and operation of a multipurpose museum campus to house the National Museum of the United States Navy. This is a model similarly used by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army in their highly successful National museums.
Naval History and Heritage Command is the lead for the new NMUSN initiative and hopes to celebrate a significant construction milestone on the Navy’s 250th birthday, Oct. 13, 2025.
NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, the USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.
For more news from NHHC, visit www.history.navy.mil.