National Naval Aviation Museum
1750 Radford Blvd., Ste B NAS Pensacola, FL 32508 (850) 452-3604
Things to Explore and Tips to get you Aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is often called the cradle of naval aviation, as close to 60,000 students – most of the members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard – begin their careers in flight training at the Pensacola-area base each year.
Its history dates back to the early 19th Century when the Pensacola Navy Yard was established. Today NAS Pensacola counts more than 1 million visitors annually, and for good reason – you’ll find several points of interest are located on base, and many of them are free or available to visit at a modest admission charge.
Getting on Base - Directions and Things to Know
With Naval Air Station being an active military base, there are special directions and requirements for gaining access. Here are several frequently asked questions.
National Naval Aviation Museum
One of the Pensacola Bay Area’s most popular destinations for visitors, the National Naval Aviation Museum, has consistently ranked one of the Top 25 museums in the nation by the travel website TripAdvisor. When entering the museum, guests step foot onto a replica of the aircraft carrier Nimitz. The 8,000-sq.-ft. Nimitz Flight Deck Exhibit opened late last year and is filled with everything you might see on the real thing, from arresting wires and catapult tracks to deck edge aircraft elevators. This glimpse into modern-day naval defense leads you into the heart of the museum, where you can explore over a century of military history. More than 150 restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation are displayed, including many rare and one-of-a-kind flying machines.After you peruse the many aircraft and artifacts, take to the skies in one of the museum’s 3D flight simulators or watch a film at the Naval Aviation Memorial Giant Screen Theater, both of which require a purchased ticket for admission. Weekly Breakfast & A Movie events are scheduled Tuesday mornings in February, offering guests a chance to enjoy a Chick-fil-A biscuit or other items sold at the museum’s refreshment counter, a talk led by museum historians and a movie in the theater. The museum is open daily and general admission is free. All visitors age 16 and over should be prepared to show photo ID and be subject to a bag search just inside the front doors.
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U.S. Navy Blue Angels
If you visit the museum between March and November, you might see the world-famous Blue Angels in action. The annual Homecoming Air Show takes place here every November, but the flight demonstration squadron practices over the museum at NAS Pensacola most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings throughout the season. Practices typically begin at 11:30 a.m., and last about 55 minutes, but it is recommended to arrive early as parking fills up quickly.
Looking to learn more about our Blues? Check this page out.
Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum
The Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum is another stop to make on your tour of NAS Pensacola. If you are so inclined (and wearing closed-toe shoes), climb the 177 steps to the top of the 160-year-old lighthouse for views of Pensacola Pass, where Pensacola Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, as well as three historic forts, Downtown Pensacola and the Navy Yard. Stroll through the Richard C. Callaway Museum, located on the ground floor, to learn about local history, Civil War and U.S. Coast Guard history and more. You may even hear a thing or two about ghosts, which many believe haunt the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lighthouse and museum offers tours daily along with specialty tours for Blue Angel practices, flight deck practices, sunset and full moon climbs, and ghost hunts.
Fort Barrancas
To experience military history first hand, take a walk through the storied arches and stand where cannons were fired at Fort Barrancas. Built in 1844 on a bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay, Fort Barrancas saw combat action during the Civil War. Confederate troops occupied the fort during a fight against Union forces camped at Fort Pickens in 1861. With brick walls standing 20 feet high and four feet thick, the diamond-shaped fort, which included a water battery and drawbridge, continues to impress visitors today as a monument of early military engineering and national defense. A Fort Barrancas self-guided tour map is available to download to any mobile device.
Wherever you want to visit aboard NAS Pensacola, it is important to plan ahead and follow procedures for entering the base. Please remember – all visitors must enter NAS at the West Gate civilian entrance on Blue Angel Parkway (unless you are military).
Fort Barrancas (Gulf Islands National Seashore)
3182 Taylor Rd Pensacola, FL 32508 (850) 934-2600
Barrancas National Cemetery
Barrancas National Cemetery is located on the grounds of the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and traces its history to three 19th century forts that once guarded the entry to one of the best natural harbors in the Gulf of Mexico--Pensacola Bay. Today, Barrancas National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 36,000 military veterans, including several Medal of Honor recipients. While most of the cemetery graves are laid out in uniform rows, a section of burials remains from the early 1800s predates the establishment of the national cemetery by more than 50 years.
To visit Barrancas National Cemetery or A.C. Read Golf Course, you can gain access by coming through the main access gate and filling out a background check form at the Visitor Control Center for a day pass. Call 850-452-4153 for more information.
A.C. Read Golf Course
With its old Naval live oaks, many water holes and coveted location along Bayou Grande, A.C. Read is one of the most beautiful courses in the Navy as well as the Florida panhandle. A.C. Read Golf Club offers 27 championship holes with an additional 18-hole executive course.
The Course is now open to the Public. Club and cart rentals, punch cards, driving range, practice greens, lessons, club repair and re-gripping are available. As an added amenity, a beverage cart with snacks and sandwiches makes the rounds on the course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Golf Shop has complete equipment sales and special-order services as well as custom club fitting. For information on booking tee times, call 850-452-2454.
For those planning on golfing, you must enter through the Front Gate of the base and stop at the Visitor Center for a special-use day pass. You must bring a Real ID or a passport and will only be allowed access to the golf course. If you wish to visit the other attractions on base, you will need to exit out of the front gate and re-enter through the back gate.
National Flight Academy
