DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000
NAVY PENTAGON
W
ASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 5755.1A
DNS-H
24 Jan 2020
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5755.1A
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: NAVY MUSEUMS
Ref: (a) 20 U.S.C. §9172
(b) FC 4-760-10N, Navy Museums and Historic Resource Facilities, 1 Dec 2013
(c) 10 U.S.C. §2601
(d) SECNAVINST 4001.2K
(e) 10 U.S.C. §1588
(f) OPNAVINST 5380.1D
Encl: (1) List of Officially Established Navy Museums
1. Purpose. To provide Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) policy and procedures on the
establishment, design, construction, operation and disestablishment of United States Navy
museums; to prescribe requirements for museums regarding their collections; and to set policy
on the acceptance of support of United States Navy museums by recognized charitable support
organizations. This revision makes minor changes to the required periodicity of museum
advisory councils. This is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5755.1.
3. Applicability. This instruction applies to the Naval History and Heritage Command, all
established Navy Museums, and associated advisory commands.
4. Background. Navy museums enhance the warfighting effectiveness of the United States
Navy by using the power of history and heritage to foster unit combat cohesion and garner the
continuing support of the American people. As an integral part of the bases and communities
they support, museums provide a venue for Navy warfighting and functional communities to
build a collective identity and unit cohesion to strengthen naval power at and from the sea.
Museums provide programs and exhibits to support high velocity learning in the fleet; partner
with local Navy installations to conduct outreach to strengthen the Navy for the future; and
support international, cross-service, and interagency activities to expand and strengthen the
Navy’s network of partners. Moreover, museums conduct outreach to the American public to
highlight the critical role the Navy plays in the American public’s daily lives and the importance
of maintaining a strong Navy to protect their basic freedoms and America’s maritime commerce.
