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United States Naval Academy Museum (Visit this link)

Beyond the large wrought iron door, the entrance foyer is paneled in pink
travertine marble. There are four exhibition galleries totaling 12,000 square
feet, storage spaces for the reserve study collection totaling 3,500 square
feet, offices, and a small but well-equipped exhibit construction shop taking up
the remaining 5,000 square feet. In addition to the galleries, museum objects
are also exhibited in the Chapel crypt, Memorial Hall, the Yard, and most of the
academic buildings.



The U. S. Naval Academy Museum serves as an educational and inspirational
resource for the Brigade of Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy, other
students of American naval history, and thousands of visitors each year. Through
its collections and exhibits, the Museum contributes to the recognition of
history as a basic source of knowledge in advancing the theory and practice of
sea power - Ex Scientia Tridens: from knowledge, sea power.



The Museum is charged with collecting, preserving, and using in exhibitions and
in study programs, the objects, documents, and works

of art which relate the history and traditions of the United States Navy.
Emphasis is given to objects illustrative of the role of the naval officer and,
in particular, that of alumni of the U. S. Naval Academy in the events of our
past.



The Museum regularly reviews offers of gifts and the staff researches items to
augment, improve, and fill gaps in its collection. To be accepted, each
acquisition must directly relate to the purpose of the Museum. It also must be
useful to illustrate a subject for an exhibition or for educational and research
purposes. Catalog records and documentary evidence are developed and maintained
on all acquisitions in the Museum's collection.



The preservation of objects in the collection is a primary concern. Examinations
and treatment by professional conservators are costly but very necessary
functions for the benefit of future generations. The vast assortment of items
and variety of materials-oil paintings, ship models, art on paper, textiles, and
metals- in a history museum require a diversity of expertise and constant
attention.



The Museum staff plans the use of the artifacts in the collection on a
continuing basis. They design and construct long-term exhibits in the Museum
galleries and other areas of the Academy. Each year several special temporary
exhibitions are featured that focus attention on selected themes and subjects.
They use objects from the Museum's own collection and, at times, selected items
borrowed from other sources.



Midshipmen are encouraged to study the materials in the Museum in developing
oral presentations and written reports. The collection is also made available to
faculty and to visiting scholars for research.



The Museum's holdings include ship models, paintings, prints, flags, uniforms,
swords, firearms, medals, sculptures, manuscripts, rare books, photographs, ship
instruments and gear, and a wide variety of personal memorabilia. Several
special collections are particularly noteworthy: The Beverley R. Robinson
Collection's 6000 prints reflect the naval history of Europe and the New World
from 1514 through World War II.



The United States Navy Trophy Flag Collection, begun by an Act of Congress in
1814 and given to the care of the Naval Academy in 1849, now totals more than
600 historic American and captured foreign flags. Included are the famous "Dont
Give Up the Ship" battle flag flown at the Battle of Lake Erie, the first
American ensign flown in Japan (1853), and flags and banners which have been to
the moon. The flags are augmented by a collection of books on the subject, among
which are many rare and valuable hand-illustrated editions.



Another valuable historical reference is the Malcolm Storer Naval Medals
Collection, which was donated in 1936. It is composed of 1,210 commemorative
coin-medals dating from 254 BC to 1936. The collection was gathered from thirty
countries.



Other significant groups of objects and documentary materials related to John
Paul Jones, Edward Preble, Stephen Decatur, Oliver H. Perry, Matthew C. Perry,
David G. Farragut, Chester W. Nimitz, William F. Halsey, and other significant
personages of our past. A number of valuable naval documents acquired from the
Rosenbach, Christian A. Zabriskie, and John L. Senior Collections are available
for research.

http://www.usna.edu/Museum