Naval History and Heritage Command
Exhibits
Beginning with approximately 600 objects, the Museum's collection now numbers more than 18,000. Building 50 provides the Museum with 7,909 square feet of exhibition space and 4,392 square feet of collections storage.
Today, visitors can explore the naval history of the region and experience life as a sailor through exhibits about the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the USSJohn C. Stennis, and much more.
Permanent
USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)
Come and experience life as a sailor while exploring the Museum's first permanent exhibit. This exhibit portrays life onboard one of the U.S. Navy's nuclear aircraft carriers. Explore where sailors sleep, what they eat, and how they spend their time and learn about the aircraft carrier's mission and ship operations.
A Heritage of Excellence
For more than 100 years the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility has provided industrial strength and support to the U.S. Navy. Learn about Lieutenant Ambrose B. Wyckoffs vision of establishing a naval station in Puget Sound and how his vision became reality.
Special Operations Submarines
Learn why special operations are silent, secret and important, and why U.S. Navy submarines are the perfect machines to carry them out.
Dry Dock Theater
The Dry Dock Theater provides an area for museum visitors to sit down, relax, and view a variety of films covering a wide range of naval-related topic
Temporary
PSNM frequently presents temporary exhibits featuring a wide variety of naval related subjects. Please check the Upcoming Exhibits section for upcoming openings or Past Exhibits to see some recently presented shows.
Salute: Cartoons of WWII
Remembering Midway: The Turning Point in the Pacific
Beyond Rose: Women of the Shipyard Exhibit
For more than a century, women have worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The "Rosie the Riveters" of World War II are perhaps the most well-known female shipyard workers; however, this term oversimplifies the diverse experiences and contributions of women to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The first women worked as nurses, secretaries, and seamstresses, but today women hold a variety of positions in nearly every job classification, level, trade and rating in both Civil Service and in the U.S. Navy.
Coming Soon
Check back soon to see what PSNM is working on!
Past Exhibits
- Shop 11
- Shop 31
- Shop 99
- Code 200
- Faces of the Shipyard: African America Contributions to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- "Beyond Rosie: The Women of PSNS & IMF"
- "Carrying the Weight of the Shipyard: Code 700"
- "Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam"
- "Craftsmanship, Precision, Vision: Shop 38"
- "The Centennial of Naval Aviation"
- "The War of 1812"
Online Exhibits
Collections
Beginning with approximately 600 objects, the PSNM's collection now numbers more than 18,000. Ownership of all artifacts held by any official Navy museum, including PSNM, resides with the Curator of the Navy in Washington, DC. PSNM may accept or reject artifacts based on criteria outlined in the collections management policy. Artifacts donated directly to PSNM become the property of the U.S. Navy
Artifacts
In accordance with the institution's mission, PSNM collections are developed, managed, and preserved for use in research, exhibits, and public education programs. PSNM collections include artifacts of cultural, historic, and technological or artistic significance related to the United States Navy's history in the Pacific Northwest. The Museum develops specialty collections in the following areas:
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard history
- USS John C. Stennis and other locally homeported aircraft carriers
- Locally homeported special operations submarines (i.e. USS Jimmy Carter, USS Seawolf, USS Connecticut, USS Ohio, USSMichigan)
- Naval Base Kitsap, Naval Base Everett, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
- History of the U.S. Navy in all Pacific Northwest states
Photographs
PSNM offers the public the opportunity to obtain reproductions of images and to order original photography of artifacts from its collections for which PSNM holds copyright. Use must maintain or enhance PSNM's reputation for quality and be non-exploitive and culturally sensitive. Availability of images and the option of original photography are subject to the condition of the material, applicable state and federal laws (including copyright).
PSNM must be prominently credited for any images used in publication, display, or otherwise made public. Photographic prints to which PSNM does not own intellectual property rights to are not available for reproduction. Classified or otherwise restricted photographs are not available for reproduction
Library
The Frank & Louise Reh Memorial Library collection includes books, technical manuals, periodicals, newsletters, and DVDs. Material in this collection supports interpretive exhibits and programs, artifact collections, and research initiatives and is beneficial to PSNM staff, Navy personnel, and the general public.
The library is open to researchers and the general public, although the library is non-circulating. View the Catalog.
Research
Can we help you with naval history-related question? We are ready and willing to help all those interested in naval history, including students, historians, researchers, teachers, and visitors.
Donating
If you have items you are interested in donating, please contact the museum in advance to make an appointment with the Curator. A temporary custody receipt will be issued to you at the time of the donation. The Collections Committee will review the object, and make the final decision regarding acceptance of the items into the collection. The donor will be contacted regarding the Committee's decision.