I just visited the U.S. Naval Academy Museum for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I was really impressed. The museum is located in Preble Hall on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, so you'll need to check in/go through security at the visitor entrance (they check ID and run your bags through a metal detector), but it was very fast. Then it's just a quick walk over to Preble Hall. When we entered, we welcomed to the museum by two docents, who briefly explained what could be found in the museum, including their favorite parts of the collection (which was perfect, because we had less than hour in the museum before they closed). The museum is two floors. The first floor has exhibits on the development of the Navy and the history of the Naval Academy. The second floor houses an incredible collection of models of warships from the 17th-19th centuries (one of the largest collections of ship models). I wasn't sure this would be that interesting to me, but the docents had really highlighted this part of the collection during their introduction. I'm so glad we trusted them, because it was fascinating. One part of this collection really blew me away - the bone model display. It might sound morbid, but these models were carved from the bones of beef rations given to French prisoners of war during their incarceration in England (Anglo-French wars of 1756-1815). I had no idea about any of this history (does anyone?!), and it was really interesting. But the first floor also had amazing artifacts, and I learned a lot. Overall, this museum (also free, by the way) was pretty great. Even if you're not typically interested in naval history, this museum is special. It's well-curated and interesting. And those docents were wonderful! I'm sure I'll be back to take in what I didn't have time to on my first visit! read more

See all

Free museum! Tip, you can't drive your car to entrance as a visitor. Must park in town and walk over. Volunteers at desk are available to give you tips about the exhibits. Clean bathrooms are available. The ship exhibits are cool! read more

In A Nutshell: -The U.S. Naval Academy Museum is a cool place to check out if you are interested in learning about the history of the Navy. -As an Army veteran & Navy brat, I felt privileged to walk through & see one of our great military branches. -I liked the bright open spaces, the short yet detailed images, uniforms & other relics. -The large indoor track was also really cool to peer into. -The gift shop was very big w/ plenty of mementos to purchase, they even offer military/veteran discount. Overall, the combination of the history of the U.S. Navy along w/ active duty sailors & young future commissioned officers were a sight to see! read more

See all

This is truly a wonderful museum. We visited the Naval Academy a few years back and it was quite special to us as my father-in-law served in the Navy. The Naval Academy Museum was the highlight of our visit as it's absolutely packed with items of historical significance and frankly some absolutely beautiful pieces. The model wooden ship section on the second floor was fascinating and we spent quite a long time there, admiring these intricate models that were filled with layers and layers of detail. It's really a site to see and I would highly suggest coming here just to view that exhibit. This is a worthwhile museum and I highly suggest it to anyone who is interested in military, US, or world history! read more

See all

The naval academy was a great place for you or a group of people it is about a hour and a half tour through all the historical building on campus. The tour guide was very educated on the topic, and was able to answer questions from the group. read more

See all

Great museum. If you like military history this is the very best. Very good talk and review

What a great place. This building is found inside the Academy, and it houses displays representing the entire history of the US Navy. On the second floor, it has displays of wooden model ships from the days of sail. There is also a small theater with a short film on the history of the museum. On the basement level, there is a model building workshop and a small shop. The museum is very informative, showing not only armaments and ships of every era, but also touching on the social issues that the US Navy resolved (i.e. admission of women into the Academy). If you come to visit the academy, I recommend coming here. It is a good educational experience. read more

See all

This museum perfectly captures the history of the unsigned states navy. Even history buffs will learn something new by coming here. Two floors with a wide array of displays and historical items. Second floor is largely ship models of various ships used during the revolution. Pro tip, when visiting in the summer you can duck in here for free AC. read more

Small but powerful museum. Not easy for the public to access, but worth the effort. There are some amazing artifacts on display and it's all free. Very good docents to help with exploration. If you go on Monday ask for Sam and Phil. read more

See all

This was only part of the section dedicated to the WW1 history. The captions, photos, documents and exhibits share some of the past, including the people which I find interesting read more

U.S. Naval Academy Museum - Lots of history and artifacts to see - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

See all

The museum at the Naval Academy isn't a destination unto itself, but it is a worthwhile stop for anyone in the area. It is free, but one does have to show an approved ID to get on to the campus, so be ready. Once there, you get one floor of exhibits detailing major points in naval history. It is interesting, as I've been to plenty of museums that cover the same events, but getting a naval perspective is nonetheless new and informative. I certainly learned a few things. The second floor is a collection of model ships, many of them built at the same time as the full-size ship. There is some impressive craftsmanship. It'll probably be a half hour to an hour before you're on your way to one of the other sights in downtown Annapolis, but it's time well spent. read more

The Museum is not only a well preserved glimpse of our past but is a rare find as far a wonderful grounds keeping and history. Ensure you walk across the street from the museum and visit the crypt of John Paul Jones. Great place. About The Museum The U.S. Naval Academy Museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually from all over the world. Located in Preble Hall on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Museum offers two floors of exhibits about the history of seapower, the development of the U.S. Navy, and the role of the U.S. Naval Academy in producing officers capable of leading America's sailors and marines. Our displays combine historical artifacts with video and audio technology to bring to life the stories of the men and women who have served their country at sea. Whether you are a casual visitor, a student of naval history, or a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen, the Museum stands ready to make your visit a memorable one. Our Mission The mission of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum is to collect, preserve, and exhibit the artifacts and art that are the physical heritage of the U.S. Navy and the Naval Academy in order to instill in Midshipmen a knowledge of the history and heritage of the U.S. Navy and the Naval Academy and to supplement the instruction of all academic departments of the Academy, as well as to demonstrate to the public the contributions of Academy graduates to the military services and to the Nation. And to motivate in young people a desire to become part of the Brigade of Midshipmen and to begin a career of service to their Nation. Visitor Information The Museum is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum is open everyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy must show a valid government ID (driver's license, passport, CAC, etc.) at the gate. read more

Wow! This place is good! First floor traces American navy from the beginning to "now". I recently read "Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History" - so it was interesting seeing all my heros portraits and their kit. John Paul Jones was a pretty cool cat! He carried around this "folding knife" that was like a "folding sword". I thought, "This guy was bigger than life itself!" Upstairs is a collection of model ships. Some are very old - as are their display cases. I was very tired after traversing the downstairs from the revolutionary war to the nuclear age. (See Jimmy Carter's white jumper!) I thought, "Okay, a quick look at these models and I'm outta here!" The models were amazing! The detail, the materials used to make the models - and the variety of ships. When I read about the Tripoli Pirates, the book mentioned low draft gunboats used to go into the harbor and deal with the pirates. There were models of them on display. There were some models made of bone and some made of ivory. There were some little tiny ships in bottles - and some very large ships several feet long. read more

U.S. Naval Academy Museum - The Great White Fleet was an embarrassment and the bravado was tirite.... IMHO - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

The Museum of the Naval Academy is def worth a visit on a visit to Annapolis. It has been updated in recent years and is more attractive and informative than it has ever been. You will learn the history of the United States Navy from the early days to the present. Also presented is one of the best ship model collections in the world. There is a lot to read and a lot of buttons to push in the exhibits. Even if you are like me and just do a few of them, you will still learn something! Tip - The orientation film to the museum is not on the ground floor but up one level. Head there first..... read more

See all

this museum sits in the middle of the US Naval Academy's campus. it shares real estate with the visitors' center. admission is free, which is a nice perk. unfortunately, we arrived about 30 minutes before closing time, hence did not have much time to explore the museum. the exhibits were pretty cool, as we saw 17th and 18th century sailors' uniforms and read some interesting facts about life at sea in those days. there was also a small theater which looped a short documentary. i would definitely recommend visiting this museum, but giving yourself at least an hour to walk through at a leisurely pace. read more

U.S. Naval Academy Museum - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Unlike West Point where the museum is detached from the academy and does not require a security clearance. the Naval Academy Museum is virtually in the middle of the campus. I entered through Gate 1 showed by driver's license with photo then went through a body scan and proceeded on a self-guided tour. The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center is located in the same building. It is free admission to the campus and the museum. The museum is in Preble Hall which is about a 10 minute walk from Gate 1. You will pass a number of buildings including the Main chapel which houses the crypt of John Paul Jones. It is definitely worth a stop. Preble Hall has two floors of exhibits. The second deck has exhibits related to the history of sea power, development of the U.S. Navy and the role of the U.S. Naval Academy in producing officers. There are audios and videos so it is not exclusively about reading. The 12 minute video on the second floor is an orientation video and probably worth seeing first.There are interactive battle maps which display tactics used in various sea engagements The Rogers Ship Model Collection is world recognized. The Beverley R. Robinson Collection of prints of famous ships and naval scenes from the last 500 years was interesting. The Shifley Lecture Series is held in the 2nd floor Theater but you need to check the schedule.The first floor central gallery has exhibits about the history of the academy. A piece of the Monitor was on display. There was a video and light display illustrating the attack on Pearl Harbor. Be sure to check out the model builders at work in restoration and building new models. They are quite engaging. They have a USNA Gift Shop and Museum Store with unique items. The audio podcasts are on the online site but you must have iTunes. It's free and iTunes can be downloaded right on the online site. Hours are Mon-Sat (9-5) and Sun (11-5). read more

See all

An amazing experience. So much to take in and our guide was incredible. Don't miss an opportunity to go see this place. Loved everything about it. read more

See all

I love when you discover something that you have no real interest in but have it presented to you in such a way that it stands out as a highlight of a day or trip. That is more than likely how you feel about model ships. This museum had hundreds of model shops on display. They varied in size from about the size of a shoe to over 6 feet long! Some of the ships were made by POW's to celebrate the battle in which they were captured... so wrong. lol Some ships were made from bone and others from baleen... I also didn't realize baleen was hard! Crazy! Make sure to spend some time at this free museum when you come to Annapolis! read more

This was a very comprehensive and extensive Museum that highlighted all aspects of the United States Naval Academy. I spent hours there enjoying all of the exhibits. I especially like the exhibit that highlighted the battles and how they were specifically fought back in the late 18th and 19th centuries. There were multiple floors filled with awesome exhibits highlighting all parts of the history. Definitely worth a visit and prepare to spend some time there! read more

Naval history at its best! Quite the collection of original hand-crafted shipyard models on display. All exact replicas of the real ships. Displays made from repurposed items, such as ships made from intricately carved and shaped bone. Awesome chronology of American naval war campaigns. Highly recommended! read more

Not a big place, but it's free. Beautifully designed model ships/boats built to scale are on display here. Obviously, take the paid tour to see the rest of the campus, but make sure you look at the displays here as part of your overall experience. read more

U.S. Naval Academy Museum - Museums Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

From the US Navy's birth through modern day, a great museum! I was particularly taken with the ships constructed from bone by imprisoned soldiers. http://walkaboutwithwheels.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-museum-at-us-naval-academy.html read more

We originally thought the visitors center was the museum and were a little underwhelmed but we were informed of the actual museum further into campus. Very dense, well organized naval history museum. I would have liked to have spent more time here than we did. There is tons of information to absorb and a wonderful model ship exhibit on the second floor. Essentially, the United States' entire naval war history is on display with good detail and relics. I would definitely count this in the top of military history exhibits that I have visited. read more

A small museum without many whistles and bells, but easily the finest collection of model sailing vessels I've ever seen. For its small size, the Museum is dense with history. One could easily spend a day, looking at all the exhibits, but more realistically, an hour or 2 would be enough, unless you are a hard core history addict. Small children will like the second floor more than the first floor, but they will want to move on to the first and outside fairly quickly. read more

I go for the small boats, and whenever I take someone to visit that's where we head. Down to the basement (there is a side entrance you can use) and into the model ship exhibit. The 'bone ships' are stunning works of art created by the prisoners aboard other ships, and the regular collection of dockyard models is supposedly the second largest collection after the one in Greenwich England. NOTE: Visited Oct 1, 2008 and entire museum is encased in scaffolding as part of a major renovation. Not sure when it will reopen. Best to contact the Academy or visit some other sites on the base (Lejeunne Hall and the Heisman trophy) or Bancroft Hall. UPDATE: Visited September 2009 and the museum has been renovated (wonderfully) and is open for business. The ship models are now on the second floor instead of the basement, and the whole layout of the museum has received a much needed update. Very light and airy. Strongly recommend a visit even for those who have been before. read more

Lovely museum! The museum is well maintained, thought provoking and inspiring. There was a lot to see and it is well laid out. My 4 year old even enjoyed it. The grounds surrounding the museum are also enjoyable and so well maintained. Finding parking was the only hard part. read more

If your interested in Naval history then this is a must, if your not the model ship collection is insanely interesting. Some of these model ships are made from bone, by prisoners, from their food, and their really intricate. If your in town wondering around, stop by Mon-Sat 9-5, also stop by Bancroft Hall if your here. read more

Hope you like boats. I liked this place but not sure if I would return. Unless... I somehow met at model boat nerd. The history part was cool but again not sure if it warrants a return. I do like that fact that I got to walk around a little on the Naval Academy grounds. read more

What a fascinating collection of ship models and naval history. Very suitable for the special institution of the Naval Academy. A must if you're a naval history; worth a visit even if you're not. read more

This is a free museum on the campus of the Naval Academy. You will learn the history of the Navy from inception to present day. Depending on your interest, you can spend days here reading up on various naval battles & heroes. Upon entry to the museum, we were greeting by a 1958 graduate of the academy who gave us many tidbits about the exhibits. I especially liked the class ring display showing the Naval Academy rings from many graduating years. Don't forget to check out beautiful ship models at the upstairs exhibit. I am amazed by the details of these models. I highly recommend a visit to this museum during your visit to the Naval Academy. read more

Yes, this museum is very well organized for a small museum. It also boasts a model ship collection that is extremely impressive and hard to come by. Going on a Sunday afternoon is a great time to go. Dr. Joe Gross is a volunteer there who is a distinguished historian and prolific writer who is always happy to shed light on exhibits with visitors. read more