LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – After much anticipation, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum will officially open its doors to the public during a celebration this Memorial Day weekend.
Beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, May 28, the museum complex will open to all ages interested in discovering the heritage of naval aviation’s research, development, test and evaluation at Patuxent River, Maryland.
The 20,000 square-foot new exhibit hall, located next to the main entrance to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, is arguably the most recognizable structure on Three Notch Road.
“As many know, design and construction of the museum have been ongoing for several years,” said George Hill, president of the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association. “From its roofline reflecting the shape of an aircraft, to its state of the art environmental controls, this building is a source of pride for St. Mary’s County and all of Southern Maryland.”
First opened in 1978, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum (PRNAM) now spans three buildings and includes a flight line of [14 different] one-of-a-kind aircraft and aircraft configurations unique to the Naval Test Center here at NAS Patuxent River.
Visitors to the museum will witness a range of test and evaluation-centric artifacts including a replica A-1 Triad, the U. S. Navy’s first aircraft; the X-35 prototype of the Navy latest aircraft; galleries of aircraft engines and ejection seats; and much more. No visit is complete without a stop at the flight simulators [key message here about flight simulator] followed by a trip to the Flightline gift shop, which offers our latest and greatest aviation souvenirs.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, our museum complex will be open six days a week. Our hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission to the museum complex is five dollars for adults and three dollars for children, seniors and active duty personnel.
“Our Board of Directors, museum staff and dedicated volunteers are truly excited to welcome visitors to this unique landmark and historic collection,” Hill said. “We hope you’ll join us as we journey to preserve our heritage, educate future generations about science, technology, engineering and math programs and inspire our community to never stop pushing the limits.”
The PRNAM is operated by the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. For additional information please contact us at association@paxmuseum.com or 301.863.1900.