The Naval Museum is a state-owned cultural entity, located on the first floor of the Navy Headquarters on Paseo del Prado (Madrid), and managed by the Ministry of Defense through the General Directorate of Defense Institutional Relations: General Subdirectorate of Historical-Artistic Heritage; and organic dependency of the admiral chief of the General Staff of the Navy, governed by a Royal Board of Trustees to which the provisions of Royal Decree 620/1987, of April 10, which approves the Regulation of State-Owned Museums, apply.

The Museum's mission is to acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit for the purposes of study, education and contemplation, pieces, sets and collections of historical, artistic, scientific and technical value related to naval activity, in order to disseminate history maritime of Spain, contribute to illustrate, highlight and safeguard their traditions and promote national maritime awareness.