Visit to US National Navy Seal Museum

Navy Seal MuseumOn the way back to Miami from Daytona this past weekend, I had the pleasure to visit the US National Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida.  The Navy Seal Museum is a hidden gem and should not be missed.  Centrally located on the east coast, both the Florida Turnpike and I-95 have exits that lead to historic Fort Pierce.  The museum grounds are located on ocean front property immediately in front of the public beach.

Fort Pierce – Florida

Fort Pierce dates back to 1838 as an outpost and really took off as a community during World War II when it served as a training ground for the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT).  The Underwater Demolition Team is the precursor to the elite fighting units of the Navy Seals (Sea Air and Land).

Navy Seal Museum

The National US Navy Seal Museum is comprised of two connected buildings.  The original wing opened in 1985 and told the story of the start of the Navy Seals during World War II through the operations conducted in the 1980’s.  Much of the exhibit space pays tribute to honored Navy Seals and their contributions to World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and other operations.  In 2012, the museum was expanded to include the current operations of the Middle East and exhibits dedicated to showing the weapons and equipment of the Seals including a Blackhawk helicopter.

After going through the museum, you cannot help but to have a greater appreciation for the sacrifice and dedication of these tenacious warriors who proudly wear the trident.  There is something for everyone at the museum, from interactive exhibits, educational exhibits for children, and plenty of opportunities to take photos of equipment and vehicles used by the Seals.  To see some of the photos from my trip, click here: US National Navy Seal Museum Photos.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

About Patrick Russell

Director and oral historian for the Making History Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Veteran stories for future generations. Resides in Miami, Florida, where he is a full-time mediator and has been a practicing lawyer since 1994. Proudly serves as a staff member for the University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, in addition to being a member of the Oral History Association, American Historical Association; Friends and Family of the 508 P.I.R.; and the Battle of the Bulge Association. Graduated from Marquette University with a B.A. in Political Science, and a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Additional courses and workshops for oral history and museum studies have been taken at Baylor University and Harvard University, Harvard Extension School. Contact info: (305) 608-2977 or patrick@making-history-project.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.