NAVAL EXHIBITS

American Helicopter Museum
Exhibit: Over the Horizon
Location: 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, PA 19380
Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.

The exhibit from the American Helicopter Museum showcases the evolution of naval helicopters through aircraft, models, photos, and video — highlighting roles from anti-submarine warfare to beach landings.

American Swedish Historical Museum
Exhibit: And Let Victory Tell the Rest: 250 Years of Navy Shipbuilding in Philadelphia
Location: 1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Philadelphia has long been a hub for U.S. Navy shipbuilding, from the Revolutionary War to the Cold War. The exhibit, curated by the National Museum of the United States Navy, highlights the region’s historic contributions, the ships built in the region, and the people behind them.

Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum
Exhibit: Commodore James Biddle
Location: 1332-1202 State Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, with select Saturdays through November 14, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (check ahead before visiting)

Explore the remarkable naval career of Commodore James Biddle, who helped shape the early U.S. Navy. Biddle oversaw Philadelphia’s U.S. Naval Asylum, the Navy’s early officer training site before the Academy moved to Annapolis.

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
Exhibit: Shipbuilding of the Delaware River
Location: 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The exhibit highlights the rich history of ship construction and repair along the Delaware River. The exhibit showcases artifacts and tools from historic shipyards, including items recovered during the Battleship New Jersey’s 2024 dry docking, offering a closer look at the craftsmanship and innovation that shaped America’s maritime legacy

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial
Exhibit: Support Any Friend
Location: 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
Debuts: Fall 2025

Created by the Naval History and Heritage Command, the exhibit showcases the history of the Navy communities, including aviation, special forces, and surface warfare, in the second half of the 20th century.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Exhibit: To Provide a Naval Armament: United States Navy and Marine History, 1775 – 1958
Location: 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday 1 – 7 p.m.

The exhibit, presented in partnership with Homecoming 250, draws on the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections to explore Navy and Marine Corps history from the Revolution through the Cold War — anchored in the people and stories of Philadelphia.

Independence Seaport Museum
Exhibits: Small but Mighty!: Models, Toys and Miniature Ships & Patriots and Pirates
Location: 211 S. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Models, Toys, and Miniature Ships: Featuring nearly 50 rarely seen models, the exhibit explores the history and evolution of the U.S. Navy through a range of ship models—from historic Navy vessels and Pond Yacht models to toy models that would have been sailed on the floor of large Victorian homes in the 19th century.

Discover Philadelphia’s role in the founding of the United States Navy at the Pirates & Patriots exhibit. Learn how the Navy was born out of debate right here in the city, and why Philadelphia’s shipbuilders were key to its creation. Explore artifacts and stories that bring this pivotal moment in history to life.

MARITIME EXHIBITS

African American Museum of Philadelphia
Exhibit: Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad
Location: 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please note that our last tour starts at 4 p.m.

The powerful exhibition deepens our understanding of how African Americans have historically fought for life, liberty, and happiness—both within and beyond America’s borders. Sailing to Freedom centers on the largely untold story of enslaved African Americans who escaped bondage by sea, highlighting the maritime Underground Railroad as a critical, yet overlooked, path to freedom.

Pennsylvania Hospital
Exhibit: From Wharf to Ward: Pennsylvania Hospital & Marine Health, 1799 – 1830
Location: 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19108
Hours: By appointment.

The exhibit explores Pennsylvania Hospital’s role as the designated Marine Hospital for the Philadelphia area during the early republic, highlighting its care for merchant seamen and contributions to maritime medicine.