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Bremerton's Puget Sound Navy Museum keeps heritage alive

The Family Discovery Room in the Puget Sound Navy Museum features fun activities for the very young. Photo credit: Margaret Bicker

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The gorgeous example of turn-of-the-century architecture known as "Building 50" sits adjacent to the Bremerton ferry dock in the picturesque town of Bremerton. Inside its thoughtfully restored walls, it houses permanent and temporary collections of photos, documents, artifacts, scale models and interactive exhibits, all detailing the indispensible role of the U.S. Navy and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the 20th century.

In front of the museum is the impressive submarine sail from the USS Parche, the most decorated sub in the history of the U.S. Navy. The Parche conducted highly classified special operations for the Navy from 1976 through 2004.

The museum lobby is manned by volunteer greeters who welcome visitors to the museum every day (except Tuesdays from October through April) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours begin on the first floor, where visitors will find the permanent display entitled "A Heritage of Excellence." The display details the crucial role the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has played in supporting our Navy for more than a century.

Also on the first floor, families with small children will find the colorful, enjoyable, interactive Family Discovery Room, which is filled with activities to keep tiny fingers busy. Moms and dads can even snap pictures of little ones in the Yellow Submarine.

The first floor is also where the museum store can be found, and it's filled with Department of the Navy souvenirs and memorabilia for sale. All profits go to support the museum's programs and functions.

Head up the staircase to encounter another one of the permanent exhibits. Located at the top of the stairs is an extensive display about the mission and operations of aircraft carrier the USS John C. Stennis. Life-sized and scale models, photos and videos give the visitors a taste of what it's like to eat, sleep and live on an aircraft carrier at sea. There's even a genuine jump seat for visitors to strap into.

The "Dry Dock Theater" on the second floor is a place to sit down, rest your feet, and watch a selection of informative and entertaining videos that cover a variety of Navy-related topics. The second floor is also where you'll find a display about special operations subs - the Navy's silent, secret underwater ships. The exhibit uses pictures, posters and models to explain the need for these stealthy submarines and the many ways in which the U.S. Navy uses them.

Along with the permanent exhibits, the museum features three galleries on the second floor for temporary exhibits. Currently, these displays include "When Baseball Went to War," "Skin Deep: The Nautical Roots of Tattoo Culture," and in honor of Women's History Month, there is a special exhibit highlighting the contribution of women to the Navy over the past century.

"When Baseball Went to War" tells the story of the role baseball played in the history of the Navy. An integral part of Navy training and service, baseball went wherever the fleet was sent. In fact, the U.S. Navy gets much of the credit for introducing this most American of sports to countries across the globe. Major leaguers who served in the Navy include such greats as Yogi Berra, Bob Feller and Ted Williams.

To learn more about this fascinating museum and the many educational programs and resources it has to offer, call 360.479.7447 or visit www.pugetsoundnavymuseum.org.

Puget Sound Navy Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily (except Tuesdays, October through April), 251 First St., Bremerton, Free admission, 360.479.7447, www.pugetsoundnavymuseum.org

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