Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Preserve. Educate. Inspire. Southern Maryland's own Aviation Museum: Exploring the history of Naval Aviation and technology unique to NAS Patuxent River.
(564)

Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM to 5PM
Sunday: 12PM to 5PM The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum (PRNAM) is a member-supported, privately-funded museum preserving the history and heritage of Naval Aviation and associated technology. Our mission is to “Preserve, Educate, Inspire” by presenting the continuing story of Naval Aviation with a focus on Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation (RDT&E) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Our Vision is to be a highly valued community resource providing both educational and tourism benefits to the Southern Maryland area for generations. Located just outside Gate 1 of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the PRNAM is operated by the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association, Inc., a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization. First opened in 1978, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum now spans three buildings and also includes a Flight Line consisting of one-of-a-kind aircraft and aircraft configurations unique to the Naval Test Center.

👻🦇Trunk-or-Treat Community Partner Spotlight🦇👻We are so excited to announce our community partners this Halloween! will...
10/22/2026

👻🦇Trunk-or-Treat Community Partner Spotlight🦇👻

We are so excited to announce our community partners this Halloween!

will be on-site selling all sorts of sweet lemonades and yummy pretzels!

Joining us by hosting a trunk will be:
🧛 Texas Roadhouse of California, MD
🧛 Mission BBQ of California, MD
🧛Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad
🧛Devil's Den Escape Rooms
🧛The Southside Group Real Estate

Be sure to swing by their tables and see what goodies they have in store!

Join us this Halloween for Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line, happening from 1:00PM to 3:00PM! If it rains, the fun will move inside.

Children in costume receive free admission when accompanied by a paid adult.
Special Event Admission:
• Adults: $7
• Active Duty Military & Seniors (55+): $4
• Members get in for FREE!

Want to sign up to host a trunk? Visit https://lnkd.in/enSdXBpN to learn more.

✈️🩰We are so excited to announce will be joining this year's Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line!🩰✈️From 2:30 to 3:00PM, ...
10/22/2026

✈️🩰We are so excited to announce will be joining this year's Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line!🩰✈️

From 2:30 to 3:00PM, performers will share their frightfully fun dances on the flight line. And who knows, you might even get the chance to join them 👻

Join us this Halloween for Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line, happening from 1:00PM to 3:00PM! If it rains, the fun will move inside.

Children in costume receive free admission when accompanied by a paid adult.
Special Event Admission:
• Adults: $7
• Active Duty Military & Seniors (55+): $4
• Members get in for FREE!

Want to sign up to host a trunk? Visit https://forms.gle/Sp3rxhzw8wVMFNCX7 to learn more.

✈️✈️Flight Line Feature✈️✈️The Lockheed S-3 Viking was the last of its kind. Designed with a wealth of anti-submarine an...
10/21/2026

✈️✈️Flight Line Feature✈️✈️

The Lockheed S-3 Viking was the last of its kind. Designed with a wealth of anti-submarine and anti-ship systems, the Viking improved the warfighting and operator experiences. The S-3B was equipped with new sensors and the ability to launch anti-ship missiles. A handful of S-3As were converted into ES-3As, with a focus on electronic intelligence. By the late 1990s, the Navy phased in helicopters to perform ASW missions, restricting the S-3 to anti-ship and fueling missions. The Viking served in the Navy from 1974 until 2016.

The museum's S-3B, Buno. 159770, was transferred to the Naval Air Test Center in 1976. It was used for carrier suitability testing and for missile integration evaluation. In 2003, the S-3 was transferred to Operational Test Squadron VX-1. 159770 was transferred to the museum in 2005 after logging 4,285.7 flight hours.

10/19/2026

✈️Happy Monday, Aviators!✈️

While the museum is closed on Mondays, we are excited for the week ahead!

✈️Please note the flight simulators will be available for takeoff on Saturday and Sunday from museum open to close, with the final flights taking off at 4PM!

We look forward to another amazing week of sharing the stories of naval aviation!

10/18/2026

It's true, you can't buy happiness...

But you can buy museum admission, which is basically the same thing, right?

🎃Trunk-or-Treat is just around the corner!🎃Join us this Halloween for our annual Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line! This...
10/17/2026

🎃Trunk-or-Treat is just around the corner!🎃

Join us this Halloween for our annual Trunk or Treat on the Flight Line! This event runs from 1PM to 3PM, so you won't want to miss it.

Children in costume receive free admission with a paid adult admission during the event.

Special Event Admission:
• Adults: $7
• Active Duty Military & Seniors (55+): $4

Bring the family, enjoy the decorated trunks, and celebrate Halloween in a unique museum setting filled with festive fun and treats.
We look forward to seeing you in costume for this exciting seasonal tradition!

Interested in hosting a trunk? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Sp3rxhzw8wVMFNCX7

Questions about our events? Email us: [email protected]

10/16/2026

Be honest... how long has it been since your last visit?

If you haven't visited the museum lately, you'll definitely want to swing by and check out our new goodies, from new aircraft and exhibits to more hands-on learning opportunities; the museum has a little something for everyone.

We'll see you soon!

🎅🤶That's right! Mr. and Mrs. Claus are coming to town!🤶🎅Santa and Mrs. Claus will be stopping by at Holidays in the Hang...
10/15/2026

🎅🤶That's right! Mr. and Mrs. Claus are coming to town!🤶🎅

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be stopping by at Holidays in the Hangar from 11AM to 1PM, so be sure to swing by and let them know what you want for Christmas!

Holidays in the Hangar will run from 10AM to 2PM, so get here early to enjoy all the goodies and activities we have in store. Visit www.paxmuseum.com to learn more about Holidays in the Hangar and future events!

✨✨Exhibit Highlights✨✨The Unmanned Aviation Gallery gives us a keen insight into a new generation of aviation. Spanning ...
10/14/2026

✨✨Exhibit Highlights✨✨

The Unmanned Aviation Gallery gives us a keen insight into a new generation of aviation. Spanning a range of sizes, missions, and success rates, each of these UAVs shapes the future of naval aviation.

🔴Sierra Nevada Corporation developed the AN/UPN-51 UAV Common Automatic Recovery System (UCARS) to support land and shipboard recovery of UAVs. UCARS is a two-part system: the airborne subsystem installed in the UAV and the track subsystem. UCARS development tests began in 1996 at Webster Field using the RQ-2 Pioneer UAVs (highlighted in blue).

🟠 The Honeywell RQ-16 Tarantula Hawk (also T-Hawk) proves that small UAVs are still mighty. The T-Hawk is a hovering vertical takeoff and landing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) equipped with daylight and infrared cameras. Its portability and ease of use made it successful for explosive ordnance disposal teams.

🟢 The Northrop Grumman Fire Scout UAS is a multi-mission UAV, designed for reconnaissance and aerial fire support. The Fire Scout is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTUAVs) and is equipped with an electro-optical/infrared sensor and laser to designate targets for strike platforms.

🔵The AAI RQ-2 Pioneer filled the need for low-cost, unmanned observation capabilities. Based on the Israeli Mastiff UAV, the Navy acquired 175 RQ-2s in 1986. These UAVs came in handy during conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf before their naval retirement in 2002.

🟣The Bell Eagle Eye Tilt Rotor UAV System (TRUS) served as demonstrators for what could be. While the TRUS never made it beyond the demonstration phase, it continues to teach us more about how an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) should function.

Next time you visit the museum, check out our Unmanned Aviation Gallery to learn about the other UAVs on display!

10/13/2026

Today marks 251 Years of the United States Navy. From sailing the seas to the stars, the Navy has faithfully protected and served its country. We honor the dedication and sacrifice of the sailors of the past, present, and future.

May your futures be full of fair winds and following seas. Happy Birthday, US Navy!

(Audio: Aug. 1, 1963 JFK Remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy)

Address

22156 Three Notch Road
Lexington Park, MD
20653

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+13018631900

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Patuxent River Naval Air Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Patuxent River Naval Air Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category