New Marine Corps Art Exhibit Opens at Pensacola’s Naval Aviation Museum
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The free temporary exhibition brings 32 works documenting more than a century of Marine Corps aviation to NAS Pensacola.
A new temporary art exhibition has opened inside the National Naval Aviation Museum, giving Pensacola visitors another free reason to explore one of the area’s most popular attractions.
“The U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Team” features 32 works by 21 artists, including Marines who documented military operations after experiencing them firsthand. The exhibition will remain in Hangar Bay One through the end of 2026.
What Visitors Will See
The traveling exhibition traces Marine Corps aviation through five themes:
The origins of Marine aviation
World War II
The Korean War
The Vietnam War
The modern global force
Featured artists include Howard Chandler Christy, Mike Gish, Henry Casselli, Donna Neary and Charles Waterhouse.
Waterhouse served as a Marine and received the Purple Heart after being wounded at Iwo Jima. He later became the Marine Corps’ artist in residence.
The collection is displayed near an AH 1W Super Cobra attack helicopter that flew combat missions during the Global War on Terror, connecting the paintings with an aircraft visitors can examine in person.
Museum Hours, Admission and Location
The National Naval Aviation Museum is located aboard NAS Pensacola at:
1750 Radford Boulevard
Pensacola, Florida 32508
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hangar Bay One, where the exhibition is displayed, is open from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Museum admission and parking are free. No separate exhibition ticket or reservation has been announced.
Free guided museum tours depart from the information desk daily at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
What Identification Is Required?
Public visitors enter NAS Pensacola through the West Gate at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Public gate access is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
United States citizens age 18 and older must present a REAL ID compliant identification card or valid United States passport. Vehicle operators must also have qualifying identification.
Non United States citizens face additional documentation and escort requirements. The museum recommends reviewing its current base access guidance before traveling.
Vehicles and occupants may be searched or subjected to background checks. Weapons, alcohol, drones, backpacks and coolers are prohibited. A clear bag policy is in effect.
Parking access can be paused when the museum lot reaches capacity, making an earlier arrival preferable on busy weekends.
Why This Exhibition Belongs in Pensacola
Marine Corps aviation has been connected to Naval Aviation since First Lt. Alfred Cunningham reported for flight training in 1912.
Placing the exhibition at NAS Pensacola allows visitors to experience that history alongside restored aircraft and other artifacts from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
The exhibit also offers a human perspective that traditional aircraft displays cannot always provide. Its paintings document individual service members during combat, training and humanitarian operations rather than focusing solely on technology.
The exhibition is open now and remains available through December 2026. Visitors should check the museum’s access page before leaving home and enter through the NAS Pensacola West Gate.
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