History

Explore the grounds of historic Fort Morgan. Guides and enactors will explain how the Spanish used Fort Morgan in the 1500's, then rebuilt it in the early 1800's as protection against Native Americans. Standing atop the fort with a view of the once-embattled bay, visitors can imagine the summer of 1864 when Confederate and Union naval forces fought for control of the harbor entrance. You may even hear the echo of Admiral David Farragut's immortal words, "Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!"

A living history program is conducted daily during the summer. Candlelight fort tours are held Tuesday evenings in the summer. Children's Day Camps offered various time during the summer.

Eight miles across the bay on Dauphin Island, more history was written at Fort Gaines, which also battled - and was overtaken by - Union forces. A ferry shuttles across the bay during the day, linking the two fortresses once joined in a common cause.

Museum open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Fort open
8 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily (Apr-Oct)
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily (Nov-Mar)
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Admission: $5 for adults, $4 seniors, $3 for children 18 -under, free 6-under. Family Pass: $12 for 2 adults/2 children.

As the most visited museum in the state of Florida, the National Naval Aviation Museum captures Naval Aviation's heritage and brings its story of challenge, ingenuity, and courage to you.

See 180 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation displayed inside the Museum's 300,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds. Fly an F/A-18 mission in Desert Storm through our Motion-Based Flight Simulator or experience The Magic of Flight, our own IMAX® film projected on a seven-story high screen in the Naval Aviation Memorial Theatre. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the authentic Cubi Bar & Café and hop on the Flight Line Bus Tour on a free, 20-minute tour of the approximately 40 aircraft displayed on the flight line behind our Restoration hangar.

Take home the spirit of Naval Aviation with a unique memento from the Flight Deck Store and be sure to participate in our new “History Hunt” activity, an exciting game full of clues to take you around the Museum, with a chance to win some great prizes. There's so much to see and do, you'll want to stay all day! Museum admission is FREE! Located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, just a short drive from the Alabama Gulf Coast, the National Naval Aviation Museum is open from are 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week, 362 days each year, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.