Nearly a decade in the making, the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego is scheduled to open Oct. 4 in the heart of downtown San Diego. Retired Navy Capt. Brian Drechsler, will act as the executive director. Patrons can expect moving and interactive exhibits showcasing the evolution and future of the Navy SEALs.
“Building on the legacy of the existing Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, the Navy SEAL Museum’s expansion west into San Diego was a natural fit,” says Drechsler.
The museum is situated across the bay from Coronado, where many SEALs and Special Warfare Combat Crewmen launch into their careers.
Visitors can look forward to activities like the Navy SEAL Xperience, a virtual reality experience featuring a hostage rescue mission. Other highlights include Operation Neptune Spear, a 3D animation outlining the steps of the 2011 operation that captured Osama bin Laden. It is narrated by Adm. William McRaven, who commanded the mission.
The Memorial Wall, a touchscreen exhibit, was developed to honor fallen soldiers all the way back to World War II who died in training or combat. Guests can also expect to see a Mark VIII Mod 0 SEAL Delivery Vehicle suspended in the air, a rare experience due to the classified nature of underwater submersibles.
The museum’s goal is to inspire visitors through storytelling, educational initiatives and acts of remembrance and community service. It also is designed to encourage visitors to reflect on challenges in their lives, and how to face them with integrity.
“The museum is a place where service members and their families are not only welcomed, they are seen, honored and deeply appreciated,” said Drechsler. “Surrounded by shared values and lived experience, they find their stories reflected, their sacrifices recognized and a profound sense of pride and belonging.”
The exhibits will be open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now, check out navysealmuseumsd.org for more information on booking and the various discounts available to patrons. The Navy SEAL Museum San Diego is located at 1001 Kettner Blvd.
