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Navy to unveil National Museum of the American Sailor July 4

Posted June 30, 2016 11:00 pm

Naval History and Heritage Command

Drawing of naval uniforms and typical enlisted garb from Revolutionary War Period. J. Dillinger, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill. - The Great Lakes Naval Museum will be officially renamed the National Museum of the American Sailor during a ceremony and sign unveiling at the museum at 1 p.m. Monday, July 4.

The Navy's top enlisted sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens, will be joined by retired Rear Admiral Sam Cox, director of Naval History and Heritage Command; North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham; Captain James Hawkins, commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes; Jennifer Searcy, Ph.D., director of the National Museum of the American Sailor; and representatives from the Great Lakes Naval Museum Foundation and National Museum of the American Sailor Foundation to unveil the new sign in front of the museum.

"Dedicated to telling the story of anyone who has ever worn the Navy uniform, this building will do more than house history," Cox said. "The National Museum of the American Sailor will stand as a place for Sailors, Navy families and proud Americans to learn more about the Navy that serves them by using the history and experiences of our Sailors as the basis for its exhibits."

Cox and Stevens are scheduled to share the news of the name change with attendees of the Naval Station Great Lakes July Fourth celebration with a speech and video presentation at 8:20 p.m.

The National Museum of the American Sailor name change signals a shift in vision from a regional focus to one that depicts the diverse history of Sailors who have served in the U.S. Navy. The name change also reflects the interest of museum visitors, many of whom travel from across the country to attend the basic training graduations at the Navy's Recruit Training Command.

"What may appear as a simple name change to some, for me, marks a recommitment to my shipmates that as a Navy, and as a Nation, we honor the service and sacrifice of all American Sailors," Stevens said.

The National Museum of the American Sailor currently features exhibits on life in Navy boot camp, naval uniforms and traditions, the history of Naval Station Great Lakes, the role of diversity in the Navy and the role of women in the Navy. Over the next two years, the museum will expand its exhibits to introduce visitors to the overall history and role of the U.S. Navy and the experiences of American Sailors in the past and today

"I am very excited for this 'new' museum, and I welcome you all to visit. Our nation's history would not be the same if it were not for the millions of American Sailors who have served in the United States Navy," Cox said.

The museum is located in Building 42 just outside the perimeter of Naval Station Great Lakes. Building 42, known as Hostess House, was built in 1942 and served as a visitors and reception center for almost one million American Sailors who came through Great Lakes during World War II.

The former Great Lakes Naval Museum was dedicated Oct. 26, 1996 in Building 158 and opened to the public on Oct. 13, 1997. It became an official Navy Museum in Building 42 in 2009, joining the Naval History and Heritage Command museum enterprise.

The National Museum of the American Sailor is one of 10 museums in the Naval History and Heritage Command enterprise. Other museums include:

• National Museum of the United States Navy (Washington Navy Yard, D.C.);

• National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola, Florida);

• Hampton Roads Naval Museum (Norfolk, Virginia);

• United States Navy Seabee Museum (Port Hueneme, California);

• Submarine Force Library and Museum and Historic Ship NAUTILUS (Groton, Connecticut);

• Naval Undersea Museum (Keyport, Washington);

• Puget Sound Navy Museum (Bremerton, Washington);

• Naval War College Museum (Newport, Rhode Island);

• United States Naval Academy Museum (Annapolis, Maryland).

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis and dissemination of 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. The Naval History and Heritage Command is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archaeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

Enlisted naval uniform during the War of 1812. Courtesy of National Archives

Drawing of enlisted naval uniforms for War of 1812 period. J. Dillinger, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Print showing typical uniform of a sailor during the War of 1812 period. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew members by the USS Wissahickon's Dahlgren XI-inch pivot gun and foremast, during the Civil War. Copied from Francis Trevelyan Miller's “The Photographic History of the Civil War,” Volume 6, page 43. This photograph is the right half of a wider image, with Photo # NH 42265 being the left half. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew members pose by the USS Unadilla's Dahlgren XI-inch pivot gun, during the Civil War. (1861-1869) Copied from Francis Trevelyan Miller's “The Photographic History of the Civil War,” Volume 6, page 271. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Drawing of Spanish-American War and Civil War uniforms. J. Dillinger, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Six-inch gun on spar deck of USS Dixie during the Spanish-American War, 1898. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Six-inch gun crew of USS Charleston Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Scene on USS Hist (1898-1911) looking aft on the main deck, with crewmen relaxing as water keeps the deck awash, during the Spanish-American War, 1898. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Portrait photograph, taken in uniform during the World War I era, of Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee, (NC) U.S. Navy. She was the second Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps, from Jan. 20, 1911 to Nov. 30, 1922. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Courtesy of National Archives

A post card photo of the recovery of a practice torpedo aboard the USS Utah (BB-31), probably just prior to World War I. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew of USS Orizaba's starboard forward five-inch gun drilling, while she was underway during World War I. Note the canvas cover over this gun's muzzle. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

U.S. Navy Fireman 1st Class William Owens, seated, with another sailor, during or shortly before World War I. Fireman Owens lost his life when USS President Lincoln was sunk May 31, 1918. Note the USS Maine and USS Missouri cap ribbons worn by these two men. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation

“A Sailor's Sewing Day Reminds Him Keenly of Home and Mother Life on Board a Battleship.” Photo probably taken on board USS Minnesota (Battleship # 22), circa 1910, and published on a stereograph card by the Keystone View Co. during the World War I period. Note other men relaxing and reading. Note Nick Carter magazine in center, and men at right holding a USS Minnesota cap ribbon. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

In action on a PT boat's afterdeck during training maneuvers off Melville, Rhode Island, during World War II. Stenciled lettering on magazine indicates that this may be PT-62, which was at Melville in 1942-43. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Lubricating tail bearings of a torpedo in station shop 25 during World War II at Naval Torpedo Station, Alexandria Virginia. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Sailor makes adjustments to torpedo afterbodies on board a U.S. Navy ship during World War II. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Torpedo Director Mark 27 during World War II. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Seaman's uniform from the World War II period Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Grumman F9F Panther is fueled by crewmen on the flight deck of USS Boxer (CV-21), during Korean War operations. The original photo was released by Commander Naval Forces Far East, under date of July 6, 1951. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew members of the streamlined submarine USS Pickerel are shown beside a huge lei presented to the officers and men as the submarine docked at Pearl Harbor. She was among the first Pearl Harbor-based submarines to return from the Korean War Zone. The original photo was released by 14th Naval District PIO, and is dated Nov. 4, 1950. The sailors are standing on Pickerel's bow, by her sonar dome and jackstaff. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

Sailors put a float over the side of U.S. Navy minesweeper (AMS) during mine clearance operations off Wonsan, North Korea. Original photo is dated Nov. 14, 1950. This ship is probably USS Mockingbird (AMS-27). Courtesy of National Archives

Crewmen sponge out a 8/55 gun of turret No. 2 on USS Canberra (CAG-2), after Vietnam War bombardment operations in March 1967. Courtesy of U.S. Navy

Plunging into the marsh grass of the swampy Mekong Delta, Army infantrymen debark from a Navy armored troop carrier to sweep the surrounding countryside for Viet Cong. The ATCs, supported by monitor gunboats and assault support patrol boats move the infantrymen through the otherwise inaccessible maze of canals and streams. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

A crewman wheels a cart loaded with three Sidewinder air-to-air guided missiles across the flight deck, during operations off Vietnam in April 1967. USS Hancock (CVA-19) was then on her third Vietnam War deployment. Courtesy of U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

U.S. crewmen of River Assault Division One Hundred Eleven and Vietnamese crewmen stand during the raising of the Republic of Vietnam flag on a Riverine Craft of Commander Task Force 117, which was turned over to the Vietnamese at Dong Tam. Courtesy of National Archive

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