Naval War College Museum
Founders Hall | |
![]() | |
![]() Location within Rhode Island ![]() Location within the United States | |
| Location | Building 10 Luce Avenue Naval Station Newport |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°30′24″N 71°19′44″W / 41.50667°N 71.32889°W |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | George C. Mason & Sons |
| Part of | Naval War College (ID66000876) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLDCP | January 29, 1964[1] |
The Naval War College Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, is one of 10 official American museums operated by the United States Navy, under the direction of the Naval History & Heritage Command and in co-operation with the Naval War College. It is located at Building 10, Luce Avenue, Naval Station Newport, in the building which first housed the Naval War College, a structure built in the early 19th century to house Newport's poor. It is a contributing element to a National Historic Landmark District, along with Luce Hall, the college's first purpose-built building.
History
The Naval War College established the Naval Museum in 1952, with the approval of the Chief of Naval Operations to manage its collections of historical artifacts. It has occupied its present quarters on Coasters Harbor Island in Narragansett Bay since 1978. This building is now called Founders Hall and was built in 1819 as the Newport Poor Asylum. The city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island donated the property to the Navy for use as the Naval War College. College president Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce formally dedicated the building to the Navy's use. It became famous between 1886 and 1889, when college president Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan gave lectures there which formed the basis for his famous book The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–1783 (1890).
Founders Hall and Luce Hall were designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964,[1] and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Museum
Today, the Naval War College Museum uses this building to display exhibits on the history of the Naval War College since 1884, the history of naval activities in the Narragansett Bay area since the colonial period, and the history of the art and science of naval warfare since ancient times.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Original U.S. Naval War College". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
External links
- Naval War College Museum official website
- 1952 establishments in Rhode Island
- Buildings and structures completed in 1884
- Landmarks in Rhode Island
- Maritime museums in Rhode Island
- Military and war museums in Rhode Island
- Museums established in 1952
- Museums in Newport, Rhode Island
- Naval War College
- United States Navy museums
- University museums in Rhode Island
- Naval History and Heritage Command
- Historic district contributing properties in Newport County, Rhode Island


