US Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center - A mini museum TR - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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There is a compact meditation room here with some very moving artwork.
There is a display explaining who and what the ‘Blue Angels’ are.
There are displays of naval aviation – a very great strength to have.
The current “Wings of Gold” magazine that is available here has several articles in it about Pax River NAS, in St. Mary’s County, MD. For as long as I lived there, I haven’t got to the museum there, so I will take the boys there, soon! Many astronauts have trained at the Test Pilot School.
There is a gallery for the honorees of the Lone Sailor Award, including one of my personal favs: Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, PhD!
There is a display of some real hero awardees, too:
There is the Navy Log Room, where you may register and search for Sea Service members and veterans. United States Navy Memorial
There is a Media Resource Center that has print, audio and video historical documentation on the Navy.
There is a cinema that screens “At Sea” and other films.
Of course there is a gift shop; it’s called the Ships Store!
There is a nice model of the USS Constellation.
They have a lithograph of the painting (entitled 'Freedom's Cost') of the USS Gambier Bay -- I like this because it displays the 'dazzle' camoflage that was useful for a short period before the widespread use of ship-based radar. I don't recall the outcome of this particular depiction (I have since found out that she was sunk in the Battle off Samar in 1944).
They don't have a cafe (galley / mess) here, but there are restaurants of every ranking available within a block of here, including Starbucks, Teaism, and The Caucus Grill. There are many more within a couple more blocks as this is in the bustling Penn Quarter. The Spy Museum is two blocks away, as is the National Portrait Gallery (SI), and the Natural History Museum (SI).
The US Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center is nice to visit, but most likely will not take much time to see, so include it as part of a bigger day, perhaps another nearby attraction, like the Spy Museum.
By the way, the increased security at the Navy Yard may cause problems for non-citizens without military ID, but that is not a concern here.
Next up: Some more photos of the Memorial and Final Thoughts
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Do you recall the hours they were open . . . I assume they probably run a normal 9-5 type day?
The Naval Heritage Center (and Ship's Store) is open 0930 to 1700 (5 pm for non-military). I would assume the Memorial (plaza) is officially open during daylight hours.
I wanted to post this as well -- it has podcasts that explain some of the memorials in / around DC. I haven't checked it out, yet. Mobile Tours: Podcasts
Great start!! Looks like an interesting little museum so far. How that you live so close to all of these great places! Can't wait to hear more
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Originally Posted by JoanW
When was this built? I don't think it was there when I worked downtown.
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Originally Posted by JoanW
Okay. I think I remember it now. I left DC for an assignement near Fort Belvoir and came back to DC in 1989, but just never had the time to take a walk down there. So close, and yet so far!
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Originally Posted by chezp
Great start!
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Originally Posted by RobDVC
Fascinating place!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
More great pictures!!
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Originally Posted by chezp
Those displays look really awesome and very moving.
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Originally Posted by alismom
I want to go to DC soooo bad and to see all the history. It is one of my dream trips.
Thank you all very much, you are very kind!
It is really neat that there is so much here in DC! I want to share it with everyone, so that is why I am hoping to get to the 'mini' museums -- there is pretty much something here for everyone's taste / interest. I think some of the smaller places don't get as many visitors as they could because they can be a little hard to find and they can't accomodate a really large group...
I stopped by on my way to work and got these photos:
(In the distance, you can see the tower of the Old Post Office Pavilion, about four blocks away, there is a food court there, too)
The water in the fountains cascades over the 'edge of the world' on the outside edges and 'stair-steps' down on the inside edges and leads the eye to the famous quotations at the bases.
These bronze panels form a ring around the plaza section and commemorate the different aspects of sea service.
I think the color of the sky is 'Carolina Blue'... there is also a panel that explains the memorial, so you can understand it if the Heritage Center is closed. (The neo-classic temple in the background is the National Archives Building).
In the plaza, there is a projection of the world and I thought those in the UK would like to see this shot!
To really see the whole thing, you have to go there and look around or maybe there is a satellite photo of it!
Lookatit -- Google Maps. I think Washington, DC is at the center of the projection -- doesn't the world revolve around DC?
Finally, I hope everyone get a chance to see this place, soon. It is right across the street from the National Archives, which is now displaying a copy of the Mangna Carta, in addition to the other national treasures.
Great TR, I love all your pictures! I'm getting excited about our upcoming trip. Since you mentioned the National Archives, do you have any tips on when to go any thing special I should know about visiting there. It was closed on our last visit in 2003, so it's at the top of our list this time!
The intel I have on Archives is to go first thing, right when it opens. Otherwise, the waits can get pretty long...
EJ's absolutely right! I work next door at DOJ (the orange roof in the pic) and when I come out for lunch, there are usually several buses parked out front of the Archives building! Many are still there when I leave for the afternoon as well!
Photo tip: If you can get there early enough, you can shoot down Penn Ave. to the Capitol from the median. It is an awesome sight to see the sun rising over the Capitol Dome and would make a wonderful picture. I see it most mornings at this time of year and never fails to move me. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to have a camera in my workspace so I have never been able to get a photo of it!
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that you live so close to all of these great places! Can't wait to hear more
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