Story by the Naval History and Heritage Command.
In honor of the Navy’s 237th birthday, the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) opened a new Navy Art exhibit October 12 at the National Museum of the United States Navy, Building 76, Washington Navy Yard. The inaugural exhibit, “Best of Navy Art,” presents notable oil and acrylic paintings depicting the history of the U.S. Navy. The new venue will feature changing exhibits, replacing the former display space in Building 67, which has been closed to visitors in anticipation of renovation.
According to Gale Munro, NHHC’s Head Curator, the goal of the move is to bring more visibility to the collection. “We are always hearing people say, ‘I never knew the Navy had an art collection.’ Not only does the Navy have an art collection, it has an amazing art collection. We’ll only be able to exhibit small parts at a time, but we’re going to try to make it worth the visitor’s time.”
The Navy Art Collection is comprised of 18,000 paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture depicting the men and women of the U.S. Navy and its heritage. The Collection is particularly famous for its combat art, which are eyewitness depictions of Navy activities by artists that have accompanied Sailors and Marines into combat areas.
The new exhibit space will be open 7 days a week, except federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Access to the National Museum of the United States Navy on weekdays is through the visitor’s gate at 11th and O St SE, and on weekends through the gate at 6th and M St SE. Adults must present photo identification.
For more on Naval History and Heritage Command visit their website at www.history.navy.mil. And for those interested in reproductions of pieces in the Art Gallery’s collection, please contact the Naval Historical Foundation’s Historical Services for more information.
