A few months ago, my husband (then fiance) was telling me about the Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida. Him being an ex-squid (ex Navy) and having tried out for the Navy SEALs, he is pretty much interested in anything related to SEALs. (SEAL = Sea, Air, Land) And myself also being prior military, I have an interest in anything military related. So I searched and found where this museum was located and off we went.

The UDT SEAL Museum is located in Fort Pierce, Florida, but on the northern part of Hutchinson Island, Florida. The museum sits upon where the original Frogmen (name given before SEALs) trained back in the early 1940's. Fort Pierce is the home of the Frogmen and this museum is the only one in the world that is solely dedicated to the elite Naval Special Warfare.

When you first pull up to the museum, you may think you are in the wrong place. The building is rather small, surrounded by a chain link fence, with a few parking spots on a side road next to the building. Outside the museum you can explore various modes of transportation used by the SEALs such as patrol boats, 2 man submarines, and a helicopter to name a few. There is also an actual captured gun boat that was captured during the Gulf War sitting outside. All of these vehicles were all used at one time or another in real time, and you can read a little bit of history on each vehicle thanks to a statue next to each vehicle. Outside the museum you can also view a space capsule that was used by the Navy to retrieve astronauts after they arrived back to earth.

Outside the museum you can see some of the actual training gear that is left from the 40's. The gear was pulled up off the beach next to the museum and was placed outside the museum. There is another information statue telling you how the equipment was used and for what training method it was used for.

When you enter the museum, you will most likely be greeted by an elderly volunteer. The volunteer will be a retired Frogmen, a retired SEAL, or the spouse of one of the two.

As soon as you walk in, you are blown away by all of the stuff just sitting there. Right next to the door is the actual treaty and the sword surrendered by the Philippines from way back when. Your greeter will tell you all about it as soon as you take an interest in it. Your greeter will then start to explain some of the memorabilia that is sitting right in front of you.

There are a few different rooms to the museum, some are in order, some just have bits of everything all thrown together. You need to take your time when browsing because the walls are just covered from floor to ceiling with actual pictures, actual signs, actual letters and actual weapons all used by a Frogmen or a SEAL at one time. 90% of the memorabilia has information available near it so that you can see just what it is you are looking at.

There is one section of the museum dedicated to the different weapons used by the SEALs and the Frogmen, past and present. There is also a section that shows you how the soldier dressed during various operations such as World War 2, Vietnam, and the Gulf War to name a few.

Upon your visit, you can choose to view an educational film that will explain the operation of the Frogmen and the SEALs. We chose not to view this film, since we usually are the only ones in the museum and don't want to bother the retired Frogman by making him turn it on for us.

We really enjoy taking a day trip over to the UDT Navy SEAL Museum every so often. It's not a tourist trap which means there is hardly a crowd there, and each time we go, we learn something new. We can spend hours there just talking to the greeter and hearing about their own personel experiences.

Both of my children also enjoy taking trips to the museum, but that could be because they already have an interest in the military thanks to Mom & Dad. I cannot say how other children would like this museum, but it is a lesson in history and history is always good.

If you are visiting the South Florida area, or perhaps already live here and didn't even know about this great artifact right in your back yard, then I highly recommend visiting the UDT Navy SEAL Museum. You will leave the museum with an even bigger respect for these veterans and you will leave having learned something new.

All of the volunteers working at the museum are extremely friendly and are more than happy to answer any questions for you. There isn't a guided tour, but the museum is small enough that if you were to ask a question from another room, you will most likely get an answer told back at you from one of the volunteers.

One thing that I learned from the wife of one of the retired Frogmen that greeted me was "In 1943 he left me to go to war as a Frog, when he returned, he was a Prince."


Address and Information

3300 North AIA - North Hutchinson Island
Fort Pierce, Florida 34949
Phone (561) 595-5845

Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, Noon-4:00 p.m.
Open Mondays January 1 - May 1, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Adults $4.00
Children 6-12 $1.50
Pre-Schoolers Free

There isn't a charge to view the vehicles and items located outside the museum. You only pay once you step inside the actual building.

There isn't a snack bar or any place for food, and there isn't really a souvenir shop except for a display case holding different items that can be purchased, such as books, pins, cups, and other typical gifts. The souvenirs are moderately priced and of course donations for the up keep of the museum are always appreciated.

**Extra Tidbit of information**

If you visit the museum by going through Hutchinson Island, you can stop by the Nuclear Power Plant that you will pass and see the manatees that hang out there. Only problem is that due to the 9-11 events, the manatee viewing area is closed for the remainder of 2002. But it still doesn't hurt to stop and ask the security guard at the plant.

After you visit the museum, you can take a stroll to the beach that is directly behind the museum.



Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb