It was founded in 1919 after the First World War and is situated near the Old Arsenale (dockyard) of Venice, in an historic building of the 15th century which was used for centuries as a granary.

The Naval Historical Museum, laid out on five floors, features:
- exhibits depicting the maritime history of the "Serenissima" (the ancient republic of Venice), such as the reconstructions of a trireme, of a "galeazza" (a big galley which played an important role in the victory of Venice over the Turks in the 1571 battle of Lepanto), and of the Bucintoro, the Serenissima flagship, which was used for water processions, especially on Ascension Day for the "marriage to the sea" ceremony;
- models, paintings and antiques illustrating the history if the Italian Navy;
- real examples of typical boats of Venice

Address: Castello 2148, Riva S.Biagio, ZIP code 30122 - Venice