DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 5750.13A
DNS-H
8 June 2012
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5750.13A
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: HISTORICAL PROPERTIES OF THE NAVY
Ref: (a) SECNAV ltr A12-2 (300415) of 28 Apr 30 (NOTAL)
(b) SECNAV ltr ser 224313 of 28 Apr 45 (NOTAL)
(c) SECNAV ltr ser 94P29 of 30 Jan 51 (NOTAL)
(d) SECNAVINST 7320.10A
(e) DoD 4160.21-M, Defense Material Disposition Manual,
18 August 1997
(f) OPNAVINST 4770.5G
1. Purpose. To summarize responsibilities concerning
historical properties of the Department of the Navy, less those
of the U.S. Marine Corps, for which latter properties the
Director for Marine Corps History and Museums is responsible.
These include relics, memorials, tokens, paintings, documents
(except official records), museum or display objects, and
artifacts of historical value.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5750.13.
3. Background. In 1930, the Secretary of the Navy assigned the
officer in charge of the Office of Naval Records and Library
(forerunner of the Director of Naval History) additional
responsibilities as Curator for the Navy, per reference (a). In
1945, the Secretary placed the functions of the curator under
the cognizance of the Chief of Naval Operations, defined the
responsibilities of the curator, and charged the Chief of Naval
Operations with the promulgation of instructions, as deemed
necessary, per reference (b).
a. Per reference (c), in 1951, the Secretary specified that
“all articles of a museum nature donated to the Department of
the Navy will remain the property of the Department.” The
