It doesn’t take long living in the Jacksonville area to know we are a navy town. With Mayport so close and NAS Jax just a jump across the river, it is actually kind of shocking it took Jacksonville so long to get a dedicated Naval Museum. The USS Orleck Naval Museum is a result of the arrival of the USS Orleck a few years ago and has been transformed into the Jax Naval Museum on the waterfront. My museum loving daughter and I decided to checked it out. And I was SO impressed.
What to Expect
The volunteers are mostly veterans who LOVE to tell you all about life on a naval ship and answer any questions you have; this self-led tour definitely gives you a good idea and some history.
Your tour starts with a small door onto the gun deck with a short video including lights and sounds that was pretty cool. Then you follow the arrows through various parts of the ship to see the mess hall, captains quarters, the bridge with another short video about “Train Bashers” and into the radar room with a hologram video where the sounds are throughout the room mimicking how it might really sound, which was surprising and impressive. Of course, throughout there is information explaining the importance of the various areas, what they were used for, etc. At the end you exit through a gift shop, of course.
There’s Something for Kids of All Ages
I know taking a younger child to a museum doesn’t always go well, BUT the USS Orleck has a scavenger hunt for them with a prize at the end! (cute prizes too) At the ticket booth, your kiddo will receive a postcard sized paper with different spots on the tour as they try to “find Lady”, an adorable Labrador service dog pictured in various rooms on signs with numbers to fill out on the card.
The ship does sleepovers for group trips and will be launching a new SSTEAM-H (Seamanship – Science – Technology – Engineering – Arts – Mathematics – History) program. My big tips would be good shoes and no purse as you do have to go up and down ladders throughout the ship, but this is definitely a stop worth it for a downtown Jax day trip!
The USS Orleck Naval Museum is located at 610 E Bay St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 at the old shipyard Pier 1.
Melody is a graduate of Jacksonville University, married a Jax Beach resident, moved away for 12 years, then returned to the area in 2016. Together they have two girls. Melody works as owner/photographer of Melody Coarsey Photography, she loves yoga, family, traveling, dining with a view and the ocean.
