Lexington Park in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
AIAA Historic Aerospace Site
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. Naval Air Station Patuxent River Marker
In 1942 the U.S. Navy purchased 6700 acres of land here to establish the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. NAS Patuxent River was commissioned by the Navy in 1943 to consolidate aircraft test and evaluation efforts at a centralized location. In 1945, the Navy added the Naval Air Test Center and in 1958 the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, from which four of the seven original Mercury astronauts graduated. Patuxent River is the only Navy installation dedicated to the full spectrum acquisition, research, development, test and evaluation of Naval aircraft.
Erected 2006 by The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military. In addition, it is included in the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 38° 16.599′ N, 76° 27.784′ W. Marker is in Lexington Park, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It can be reached from Three Notch Road just north of Buse Road, on the right when traveling north. Located in the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Touch for map.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Against the Odds (a few steps from this marker); Medals of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (within shouting distance of this marker); Cedar Point Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Cedar Point Lighthouse Cupola (1896) (within shouting distance of this marker); Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey Test Aircraft No. 8 ("Eight-ball") (within shouting distance of this marker); Grumman A-6 Intruder
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
Another marker is no longer nearby. Patuxent River Naval Air Museum (was a few steps from this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Additional keywords. Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, PAX River
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 46 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 25, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
