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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

The Naval Historical Center is the official history program of the Department of the Navy. Its lineage dates back to 1800 with the founding of the Navy Department Library by President John Adams. The Center now includes a museum, art gallery, research library, archives, and curator as well as research and writing programs. The Center's origins form a rich history in themselves.

The Director of Naval History is the head of the Naval Historical Center.
Dr. William S. Dudley is the present Director of Naval History
List of former Directors of Naval History

Mission of the Naval Historical Center:

To enhance the Navy's effectiveness by preserving, analyzing and interpreting its hard-earned experience and history for the Navy and the American people.

Vision Statement of the Naval Historical Center

• We envision the Naval Historical Center as the indispensable resource for the U.S. naval history and heritage.
• We shall maintain the highest standards of our professions and shall be known for our knowledgeable and responsive staff.
• Our work will fulfill the Navy's need for historical knowledge, contribute to sound decision-making, promote espirt de corps, and develop understanding of and support for the Navy among the American people.
• We shall be respected within the Navy and among the public for the high quality of our collections, curation, finding aids, exhibitions, correspondence, and publications.
• We shall ensure that our facilities promote the proper care and maintenance of our collections, preserving the past for the sake of the future.
• The staff shall be properly compensated, recognized for their accomplishments, and provided opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Guiding Principles of the Naval Historical Center

• We strive to foster a high respect for the value of history and heritage within the United States Navy.
• We publicize our programs and collections within the naval community and the public in order to promote and encourage the use of our resources. Through our publications, exhibits, and outreach programs, we strive to educate the American people about the Navy's role in American history.
• We shall serve our stakeholders by producing or displaying history that is accurate, complete, and unbiased.
• We must strive to anticipate the Navy's future historical needs in formulating strategies and policies for acquisition of historical material.
• We subscribe to and maintain the high ethical standards formulated by organizations representing our professions.
• We foster teamwork within the Naval Historical Center as a whole, as well as within individual branches.
• We will constantly use new technologies and strategies to improve the processes of our jobs.
• We value the contributions of all staff members. They shall be treated as professionals and shall be adequately recognized and compensated for their work.
  

Reference Policy on the "First," "Last," "Longest," "Oldest" etc.

The Naval Historical Center often receives "world's record" types of questions dealing with the first, largest, longest, or oldest event, ship, or sailor, etc. Examples of some of these questions are: the longest deployment, the youngest naval aviator, the first African American Navy diver, etc. Some of these answers are readily available, and the Center is glad to share this information with inquirers. On the other hand, in many cases the Navy has never collected the desired data, or organized it in a fashion to readily answer a specific question. To do so at this point would require the Center to conduct extensive examinations of constantly accumulating documents, such as logbooks and personnel files, sometimes from the entire 200+ years of the Navy's history. We do not have the resources to accomplish such large research projects, and regret that we are unable to answer certain questions. Researchers are encouraged to examine the Center's "Frequently Asked Questions."

Organization of the Center

The Center is organized into branches according to specialized subject areas:

• The Navy Museum: Exhibits relating to U.S. naval history, 1775-present
• Navy Department Library: Collections relating to naval and maritime history
• Operational Archives: U.S. Navy records on operations, policy and strategy, from 1946-present, as well as personal papers 1900 to the present
• Curator Branch and Photographic Section: Naval artifacts, including uniforms, armament, photographs, and artworks
• Navy Art Collection: Displays and traveling exhibitions on naval combat artists
• Ships History Branch: Histories of individual navy ships, 1775-present
• Naval Aviation History: Documents and collections relating to naval aviation, 1911-present
• Naval Aviation News magazine: Publishes professional magazine for active duty naval aviation personnel
• Early History: Research and writing on U.S. naval history, 1775-1918
• Contemporary History: Research and writing on U.S. naval history, 1945-present
• Underwater Archaeology Branch: Advises on underwater archeology issues
• Naval Historical Center Detachment Boston. The Detachment plans and performs all maintenance, repair and restoration of USS Constitution as close to its1812 configuration as possible.

Hours of Operation

Transportation and Parking

Dining Facilities

Barry: Decommissioned 1950s destroyer, open to visitors as display ship.

Parks in the Navy Yard: View naval ordnance, a World War I railway gun, and a Vietnam-era PCF ("Swift boat")

Marine Corps Historical Center:

Related Activities:

USS Constitution: "Old Ironsides," berthed at Charlestown, Massachusetts, is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world.

Naval Historical Foundation: A private, nonprofit organization which supports the work of the Naval Historical Center.

Naval Undersea Museum Foundation in Building 1 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the technical achievements in underwater research. Through fundraising efforts of the foundation, the Naval Undersea Museum and Conference Center complex in Keyport, Washington, opened in 1995.