The First U.S. Naval Observatory
Article by: Naval History and Heritage Command The Naval Observatory in the Foggy Bottom section of Washington, DC, completed in 1844, came more than a century after its European counterparts. There, national observatories had become integral parts of governments’...
Polar Exploration
Article by: Naval History and Heritage Command The U.S. Navy has a long history in polar exploration. As early as 1839, Captain Charles Wilkes led the first U.S. naval expedition into Antarctic waters. In the early 1900s, Admiral Richard E. Byrd established an...
Spotlight: U.S. Naval Academy Museum
An undated file photograph shows Preble Hall, which houses the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. (U.S. Navy photo/Released) The history of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum begins in 1845, established as the Naval School Lyceum; the Lyceum brought together a collection of...