By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Torrey W. Lee
The 2021 NNHC Museum Excellence Awards winners include:
- Museum Overall Excellence
- Homeport Alliance for Battleship New Jersey (Large Category)
- Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association/USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum and Park (Small Category)
- Curatorial Excellence Award
- Battleship Missouri Memorial (Large Category)
- Maintenance Excellence Award
- USS Alabama Battleship Commission (Large Category)
- USS Midway Museum (Large Category)
- Destroyer Escort Historical Museum USS SLATER DE766 (Small Category)
- The Mariner’s Museum and Park (Other Category)
The Museum Excellence Awards recognizes public, nonprofit organizations who displayed excellence in presenting the history and heritage of the U.S. Navy with their establishments and messaging.
The applicants were judged on their exhibits, published material or lectures, and the organization’s abilities in artifact preservation. These criteria set the benchmark for all applicants.
“These are non-federal museums, and each had a unique approach in telling the Navy’s story,” said NHHC Director, retired Rear Adm. Samuel Cox. “Their ability to reach out to the public deserves to be recognized, and I truly feel that these winners are living up to naval excellence. They are honoring those that have served and are continuing to inspire and educate our next generation.”
The Museum Overall Excellence Award was presented to the two organizations for their outstanding overall achievement in operations, curation/conservation, exhibitory and U.S. Navy history education.
The Curatorial Excellence Award was presented to the organization that achieved excellence in the curation of the collections in its care, including maintaining and interpreting Navy artifacts on loan from NHHC.
The Maintenance Excellence Award was presented to the two organizations that demonstrated the greatest improvement in conditions over the past year of an artifact.
Each winner will be presented with a plaque and pennant at the Historic Naval Ships Association Annual Meeting, September 25, 2021.
“Bravo Zulu, to all the professionals and volunteers alike,” said Cox. “Your continued efforts are crucial in informing the public about our nation’s Navy, its proud heritage, and the importance of sea-power in the national security environment.”
NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.
For more news from NHHC, visit www.history.navy.mil.
