U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) is leading a bipartisan call for the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to include a Florida museum in the U.S. Navy’s Museum System, an official destination that would help the museum improve educational outreach and expand public access.
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Fla., is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the United States Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
The museum, which resides on the training grounds of the original Navy combat divers, the Frogmen, first opened its doors on Veterans Day in 1985 and achieved national stature in 2007, according to a Jan. 27 letter sent to U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan signed by Rep. Mast and signed by 29 of his colleagues from both chambers.
“The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum tells the story of our most elite warriors on the very ground where that legacy began,” Rep. Mast said in a statement. “These are the service members who cleared beaches under fire, carried out harrowing missions, and defended America in dire conditions while facing unimaginable hostility.
“Officially including this museum within the U.S. Navy Museum System ensures their legacies are preserved, honored, and shared for future generations,” said the congressman.
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum offers exhibitions ranging from the Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams of World War II to today’s Navy SEAL Teams.
Creation of, and criteria for inclusion in, the U.S. Navy Museum System is authorized by the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, according to the letter.
“Consistent with the criteria for designation, the museum maintains historical significance, public accessibility and outreach, and it strives for strong alignment with the U.S. Navy’s mission of preserving its heritage,” the lawmakers wrote. “Formal inclusion in the Navy Museum System would honor this legacy.”