Visiting the Naval Historical Center

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Visiting the Naval Historical Center

NOTICE: Due to increased security at the Washington Navy Yard, visitor access to the Naval Historical Center is limited. Government employees, active duty and retired military personnel, and their dependents should contact the branch they wish to visit before coming to the Yard. Detailed information on the Navy Yard's status is available on the Naval District Washington web site at http://www.ndw.navy.mil/Emergency/EmergencyInformation.htm.



The Naval Historical Center is open to the public without charge. The Center is located in the Washington Navy Yard in southeast Washington, D.C. Most branches of the Center are open from 0900 to 1600 (9:00am to 4:00 pm) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Visitors should verify the hours of operation for individual branches prior to their arrival, as there are some variations from this schedule.



There are three entrances to the Washington Navy Yard. Visitors without DOD car decals and DOD identification must use the O and 11th Streets Gate at the foot of 11th Street SE (East Yard). Those with valid DOD Passes May use the Isaac HullGate at M and theoretically 6th Streets SE throughout the day and the second 11th Street Gate that is open only until 0830. Of course, anyone may use the visitors' entrance at O and 11th, which is closest to the parking garage. Please have valid photo identification ready (driver's license if no DOD ID) to show the guards at the gate. Those without DOD passes may have to register at the trailer just inside the gate, should we not be able to make special arrangements with security.

Visitors may park in blue-lined spaces in the parking garages. Parking permits must be obtained at Building 172 and displayed in the window of your vehicle. Limited parking is available in front of Building 57. Please call (202-433-8421) several days in advance to ascertain availability of these spaces. There is no charge for parking.

To visit The Navy Museum on weekends starting March 6, 2004, requires a reservation to 202-433-6897. Reservations must be made by the preceding Friday by noon. On weekends, please enter the Navy Yard at 6th & M Streets, SE. Buses will need to approach the gate heading west on M Street to make the turn into the Yard.

See a map of the Washington Navy Yard

Directions

BY CAR:
From DC: Capitol Hill and Mall: Drive east on Independence Avenue; continue east on Pennsylvania. Turn right on 8th Street SE. Continue to end of 8th Street; Navy Yard complex will be visible on M Street. Turn left on M Street SE and drive three blocks to 11th Street. Turn right on 11th and proceed to the bottom of the hill and turn right into the O and 11th Gate. Visitor parking is on the left one block.

Downtown DC: Take 9th Street NW (one way going south) and continue through tunnel under Mall. Take first left after exiting tunnel onto Southwest Freeway (I-395). Take 6th Street SE exit. (Sign also says Navy Yard). Proceed down ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St. Turn right, go two blocks to M Street SE. Turn left on M Street SE and drive three blocks to 11th Street. Turn right on 11th Street and proceed to the bottom of the hill. Turn right into the ) and 11th Streets Gate. Visitor parking is on the left one block.

From Maryland (Northwest of DC): Take Beltway I-495 to George Washington Parkway. Follow parkway to the 14th Street Bridge. At end of Bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. Take the Freeway to 6th Street SE exit--sign also says Navy Yard. Proceed down ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th St. Turn right, go two blocks to M Street SE. Turn left on M Street SE and drive three blocks to 11th Street. Turn right on 11th Street and proceed to the bottom of the hill and turn right into the O and 11th Streets Gate. Visitor parking is on the left one block.

From Maryland (Northeast--Annapolis, Baltimore): Take Baltimore-Washington Parkway to I-295. Follow I-295 to Howard Road Exit. Keep left as you exit and make a left at the stop sign. Pass under the highway and make a left at the light. Get back on I-295 north. (This loop is necessary because there is no exit to the 11th Street Bridge going south). Stay right and exit at 11th Street exit (and Downtown). Stay right going over bridge and exit where sign says Navy Yard. At the bottom of the ramp make an immediate left and then a left turn at the light. Proceed down the hill to the 11th and O Streets Gate. You will be asked for picture identification. Visitors parking is on the left one block.

From Maryland (From Southern Maryland): Take Beltway (I-495) to I-295 (just before you get to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge). Exit at 11th Street Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. At the end of the Bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp, make an immediate left and at the light another left. Proceed to the bottom of the hill and turn right into the 11th and O Streets Gate. You will be asked for picture identification. Visitors parking is on the left one block.

From VA: Follow I-395 across the 14th Street Bridge. At the end of the bridge, I-395 bears off to the right and becomes the Southwest-Southeast Freeway. Take the Freeway to the 6th Street, SE exit. Proceed down ramp and continue straight ahead to 8th Street, SE. Turn right, go two blocks to M Street, SE. Turn left and drive three blocks to 11th Street. Turn right on 11th Street and proceed to the bottom of the hill and turn right into the O and 11th Streets Gate. Visitors parking is on the left one block.

From VA (From South Alexandria/Mount Vernon area): Take Beltway (I-495) to I-295 (a right turn just after you cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge). Exit to right at the 11th Street Bridge. The sign also says Navy Yard. As cross the bridge, exit to the right. At the bottom of the ramp, make an immediate left and at the light another left. Proceed to the bottom of the hill and turn right into the 11th and O Streets Gate. You will be asked for picture identification. Visitors parking is on the left one block.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

To reach the Navy Yard via public transportation, take Metro's Blue or Orange lines to the Eastern Market Metro stop on Pennsylvania Avenue SE or the Green line to the Navy Yard Metro Station at M and Half Streets SE. From both stops you may take the N22 Navy Yard Shuttle to the gates, or walk. Remember, if you do not have a valid DOD badge, you must use the 11th and O Streets SE entrance.

Metro System Map

Other Places of Interest at the Washington Navy Yard

Eating Facilities

USS Barry: A decommissioned 1950s destroyer, open to visitors as a display ship.

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





Key to Map: Operational Archives Branch (Building 57, 3rd floor), Ship's History Branch (57, 1st floor), Senior Historian/Contemporary History Branch (57, 2nd floor), Director of Naval History (57, 2nd floor), Navy Department Library (44, 1st floor), Curator Branch/Photo Section (108, 2nd floor), Early History Branch (1), Aviation History Branch and Naval Aviation News (200), Navy Museum (76), Navy Art Gallery (67)