Museum Store Stocks Bric Tek Navy Warship Building Block Kits
The Navy Museum store, located in the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard, recently began stocking Bric Tek building block kits of simulated naval warships. We currently stock seven different construction kits, ranging from a small frigate, all the way to a huge helicopter carrier (seen above) consisting of nearly 2,000 pieces. These Bric Tek sets are fully compatible with LEGO building blocks. Many of the ship sets come with smaller aircraft including helicopters and jets, and the carrier set even includes a hovercraft that can be safely stowed in a well deck! The sets also include poseable figures with guns, radios, and other attachments.
NHF Hosts San Diego Member Event On Board USS Midway Museum
On Sunday, April 7th, the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) hosted a festive event aboard the USS Midway Museum in beautiful San Diego harbor. Over 40 members and friends of the Foundation gathered on the historic aircraft carrier to catch up with old friends and learn more about the latest developments at the Foundation. Guests were welcomed by Midway CEO, Rear Admiral Mac McLaughlin USN(Ret.) and were greeted by NHF President Rear Admiral John Mitchell USN(Ret.), who welcomed southern California members and guests and provided an overview of the Foundation’s latest activities.
BOOK REVIEW – The Sailing Frigate: A History in Ship
By Robert Gardiner, Seaforth Publishing (distributed by Naval Institute Press in the United States), (2013).
Reviewed by Mark Lardas
Robert Gardiner’s latest book, The Sailing Frigate: A History in Ship Models, illustrates why he is so highly-regarded. He has previously written three other books about that cover frigate development from the 1740s through the end of the Napoleonic Era frigates (all worth having for those interested in frigate development). This latest work covers the whole of frigate history, presenting the history of frigate development from 1600 through 1850.
Celebrating Women’s History Month at the Naval Historical Foundation
Responding to the Navy’s Women’s History Month theme of “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” the Naval Historical Foundation participated in Women’s History Month by co-hosting an event with the Hopper Information Services Center, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy on March 1, 2013. The event, organized by ONI for the command’s staff and their families, honored the contributions of the late Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in the field of computer programing, who aptly utilized her advanced knowledge of mathematics and technology to create one of the first computer programing languages.
Today is National Medal of Honor Day, and we hope you’ll remember those who have risked and sacrificed so much for our nation. The Cold War Gallery at the Washington Navy Yard features a display of four Cold War era aircraft flown by U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipients, as well as a kiosk with videos about many of the Cold War recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor.
Naval Historical Foundation to Host Member Event On Board USS Midway Museum in San Diego
To all Members and Friends of the Naval Historical Foundation who live in Southern California—You are invited to attend a festive reception aboard the USS Midway Museum on Sunday, April 7th from 6-8 pm. Please see the invitation posted above and RSVP to Ms. Leslie Cook, Director of Development, before April 2, 2013 at lcook@navyhistory.org or by phone at 202-678-4333, ext.6. We look forward to seeing all of our west coast members. Foundation president RADM John Mitchell, USN, (Ret.) and Midway Museum President and CEO, RADM Mac McLaughlin, USN, (Ret.) will greet members on Hanger Bay 1. We look forward to seeing you on the Midway!
NHF Board Member Dr. Jack London Receives Nathan Hale Award From Reserve Officers Association
Dr. Jack London (Captain, USN, Retired), has been honored with the Nathan Hale Award from the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) at the organization’s 90th anniversary celebration at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. Dr. London, who services Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of CACI International, Inc., is a member of the Naval Historical Foundation’s Board of Directors, and a great supporter of our mission to educate the public about naval history.
Photo: Dr. London poses with the Sikorsky HSS-1N “Seabat” helicopter model he sponsored for the Cold War Gallery’s unique aircraft model display. The model is a replica of the Seabat he flew for HS-7 in 1961
The Constitution Fighting Top
One of the largest artifacts on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, DC, is the fighting top from USS Constitution. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, frequently addresses the fleet by video, using the fighting top for a background, as he does in this 2012 photo. (US Navy photo 121011-N-WL435-161),
If you would like to learn more about the history of the “Old Ironsides” fighting top, and how it was installed in the museum, check out our short publication, “The Constitution Fighting Top,” now available in digital format on our website: http://www.navyhistory.org/the-constitution-fighting-top/
NHF Historian Wins LEGO Shipbuilding Contest with 5 Foot Long Fletcher Class Destroyer
This past Saturday, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum (HRNM) held their second annual “Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding” contest. The event brought together those who love naval history, and those who love the iconic children’s construction blocks. The day-long event encouraged builders of all ages to bring in LEGO ships they had created at home, to enter into a contest. Over 100 creations were entered, and nearly 1,500 people visited the Museum for the event. We’re happy to announce that one of our own was judged the grand prize winner for the day. Naval Historical Foundation Digital Historian Dave Colamaria built a five foot long replica of a Fletcher class destroyer, and was selected by representatives of HRNM and the Hampton Roads LEGO User Group as the overall winner.
Naval History and the Royal Navy: An Interview with Former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
The Naval Historical Foundation recently interviewed First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCL, DL, who presently serves as Chairman of Trustees of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN). The NMRN represents an amalgamation of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (Portsmouth), Royal Marines Museum, (Southsea), Fleet Air Arm Museum (Yeovilton), and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum (Gosport). The NMRM also maintains responsibility for the upkeep of HMS Victory located at the historic Portsmouth Dockyard. As the former leader (his tenure as First Sea Lord and Chief of Staff was between 2006-2009) of a naval service having a much longer history than the U.S. Navy, Band offers some insights on how naval history impressed him, how it has been taught and utilized within the Royal Navy, and how it has been employed in efforts to eradicate “Sea Blindness” amongst segments of the British population.
(read the full interview here)
Admiral Band (second from right) is shown here in 2009 during a tour of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) U.S. Navy photo 090416-N-7730P-261.
