Most Mainers Have Never Heard Of This Fascinating Naval Aviation Museum
By Michelle|Published April 08, 2021
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Michelle
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Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
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Maine is over 200-years-old and that means there’s a whole lot of history to be found here. From architecture to simple stories that have been passed down, there’s always something new to learn. One of the things about history in Maine that we love best is the maritime element that we see and hear about. If you appreciate that you’ll want to check out this museum in Brunswick sharing the history of the maritime aviation patrol in Maine!
The Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum opened in 2009 when a group of retired and former Navy personnel and museum experts came together to find a way to preserve the naval aviation history in America with a specific emphasis on Maine.
Today the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum offers a glimpse into the operations of the naval units that have been based in Maine. The mission is to both educate visitors on the hard work done by naval airborne patrol and remember service members who lost their lives serving America.
The museum is located on the sight of the former Naval Air Station in Brunswick (or, the NASB), which played a significant role in the operations in support of World War II and The Cold War. This is where planes monitored and tracked submarines.
For the 65 years it was in operation the base saw deployments of squadrons to places like Korea, Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The base also served as a place for sailors to train, flying in and out of Brunswick in dangerous conditions and often without much recognition.
Another important part of visiting is spending some time in the Memorial Garden which was dedicated in 1968. The gardens were the work of Miss Anne Frances Hodgkins who grew up on tall ships and wanted to create a space memorializing Navy personnel who lost their lives.
And when you've taken in the history here, head over to Flight Deck Brewing to celebrate the success of those who were stationed here and memorialize those who didn't come back to their families.
The Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum is open Wednesday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., however they’re operating on a different schedule as long as COVID-19 continues to pervade. You can keep up with when they’ll be back to normal by following them on Facebook. You can learn more about the museum by visiting their website. They can be reached on 207-729-7216.
