See inside a secret Navy museum on an active base where visitors require an official escort at all times

Talia LakritzJun 22, 2024, 20:18 IST

The National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The National Museum of the US Navy is located in the Washington Navy Yard, an active military base.
Access is limited and security measures are tight, but it contains fascinating artifacts.

Before I could join a dozen others for a tour of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, I first had to pass through its heavily guarded gate.

Established in 1799, the Washington Navy Yard serves as the Navy's ceremonial and administrative center. It also houses the National Museum of the United States Navy, which opened to the public in 1963 and is the only naval museum to chronicle the Navy's history with artifacts dating from its founding to the present day.

Before we proceeded further, our guide, education specialist Mike Galloway, informed us that we were not allowed to photograph any entrances, service members, or security measures like cameras or police cars. He also emphasized that visitors could not wander around the base unattended and needed to be escorted by a guide at all times.

"I'm responsible for you at this point, and I don't want to tackle anyone today," he said, apparently joking.

The museum is in the early stages of building a more accessible space outside its tightly controlled gates. For now, it remains something of a "secret" destination.

Take a look inside the Washington Navy Yard and its museum's incredible collection of naval history.

Because the National Museum of the United States Navy is housed on an active base, access is limited.

A map of the Naval District in Washington, DC.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The base itself felt reminiscent of a college campus with brick buildings, manicured lawns, and signs advertising events.

A sign advertising activities for service members on the base that hosts the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The National Museum of the United States Military is housed in Building 76, a former naval gun factory.

The entrance to the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The museum paid tribute to its past with signage detailing the history of Building 76.

A sign on the floor of the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The museum's centerpiece was a fighting top from the mast of the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship that's still afloat.

The National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The museum featured artifacts dating back to the establishment of the US Navy.

A punch bowl on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A wooden figurehead from the early 19th century was believed to be modeled after King George IV.

A ship's figurehead.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Modern weaponry on display included items like an atomic bomb casing similar to the one used on Nagasaki in 1945.

Artifacts at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A Japanese Yokosuka MXY7-K1 Ohka plane used as a kamikaze suicide rocket bomb during World War II was suspended from the ceiling.

A Yokosuka MXY7-K1 Ohka plane.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The museum also displayed a Corsair fighter plane from World War II.

A plane on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Mark 90 nuclear depth charge, developed by the Navy during the Cold War, was designed to destroy numerous Soviet submarines in one blast.

A weapon on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

This twin-mount 38-caliber gun turret was once used to shoot down planes on the USS Reno.

A weapon on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

There was plenty to see, but much of the space remains under construction until the museum's new permanent home is ready.

An exhibit under construction.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The museum included exhibits about other aspects of life in the Navy, such as its connection to baseball.

Baseball items on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In addition to displaying historic artifacts, the National Museum of the United States Navy also functions as a ceremony space.

A display at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

After we had some time to look around the museum, our tour of the Washington Navy Yard began.

A sign on the military base that houses the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Along the sidewalk, our guide pointed out a collection of cannons captured during historic battles.

Cannons at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

We stopped at a cannon that was captured from the British during the War of 1812.

A cannon at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

An original guardhouse from the 1830s was positioned near the cannon displays.

A guard post at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

On the way to our next stop, I took in a stunning view of Latrobe Gate, which was once the main entrance to the Washington Navy Yard.

The Latrobe Gate at the Washington Navy Yard.Library of Congress

Quarters B is likely the oldest building on the base, possibly dating back to the 1790s.

A home at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Outside the historic homes, the anchor from the USS Enterprise was mounted on a platform.

An anchor at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

This Naval History and Heritage Command headquarters is where Captain Charles McVay was court-martialed after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.

An administrative building at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The old Winch House, where ships were removed from the water to be repaired, has been transformed into a coffee shop.

A coffee shop at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Taylor Building once housed a 470-foot wave pool used to test ship hull models.

The Taylor Building at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Building 1 is the Navy's oldest active office building.

A building and cannon at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

We then walked to Willard Park, which displayed more notable artifacts and pieces of artillery.

A monument at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A spare propeller blade from the USS Maine, which sank in Havana Harbor in 1898, paid tribute to the lost ship.

A propeller blade at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

One of the coolest artifacts on the tour was the pressure sphere from the Alvin, the submersible that discovered the wreck of the Titanic.

Part of the submersible that discovered the Titanic at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The last stop on the tour of the Washington Navy Yard was a parking garage with an unconventional macabre history, our guide explained.

A parking structure at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The National Museum of the United States Navy is absolutely worth visiting, even in its temporary home.

The author at the National Museum of the United States Navy.Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Photos show how being LGBTQ+ in the US military has changed

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