Visitor Center at US Navy Memorial to Temporarily Close for Renovations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Navy Memorial Visitor Center will close for two months from Monday, January 1, 2024, to February 29, 2024, for major renovations. Administrative offices will remain open. 

The Visitor's Center, located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, is the indoor venue of the United States Navy Memorial, home to exhibits in support of the Navy Memorial’s mission to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the sea services, past present and future; and to Inform the public about their service. 

Two major renovations will be completed during the two-month closure: 

  • The 230-person Burke Theatre will be converted from an auditorium/theatre to an online production facility capable of broadcasting live events around the world.  It includes replacing the sound system, installing remote cameras and lighting, and replacing the projector and screen with an “LED Wall,” the first of its kind in Washington, DC.  

  • Major exhibits will be added to the Delbert D. Black National Chief's Mess in anticipation of the National Chief’s Mess portal coming online in April 2024.  The mission of the National Chief’s Mess is To Connect Active Duty and Retired Chiefs in a collaborative environment; to Promote professional networking and social interactions; to create Opportunity for maintaining a sense of purpose and belonging; and to Support each other and the ideals of "Once a Chief, always a Chief!" 

QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT & CEO, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp IV, USN (Ret.): 

“This theatre renovation will enable military ceremonies to be seen by loved ones around the country who would not otherwise be able to participate in these ceremonies, provide a state-of-the-art venue for these events as well as major movie premiers, and provide an opportunity for companies to lease the facility for local or national events,” said retired Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, President & CEO of the US Navy Memorial.  “The addition of major exhibits to the National Chief’s Mess is the next step towards the goal of being the home to the most unique and proud group of people in any business in the world, the Navy Chief.” 

This year, the Navy Memorial held over 300 events and film screenings and doubled our number of visitors over 2022.   

The closure will only affect the Visitor Center while the outdoor portion of the Memorial Plaza and the Lone Sailor Statue remains open. While many of the Navy Memorial exhibits, like our Navy Log and Virtual Plaque Wall, are also available online so the public can continue to honor the brave men and women of the Sea Services. All of the more than 40 Navy Memorial programs will be in full swing as the Navy Memorial re-opens on March 1, 2024.   

For more updates, please contact Erin Harroun at eharroun@navymemorial.org. 

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The US Navy Memorial is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to Honor, Recognize and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future; and to Inform the public about their service. The Navy Memorial is located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004. 

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Emily Oh