The museum was founded in 1919 after theFirst World War. It is located in Campo San Biagio, near the ancient VenetianArsenal, in an historic 15th century building that was once used as agranary. The Arsenal, the most iconic and historically significant building inthe history of the Italian Navy, became the heart of the museum when atthe end of the 17th century the "House of Models" was built. This housed various models of ships, whichthen would be reproduced on a larger scale in order to build full-size ships.