Navy SEAL Monument (The Naked Warrior)
Navy SEAL Monument (The Naked Warrior) is a attraction in Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, best for military families, history buffs, a Boardwalk stop at the north end.
Dedicated July 20, 2017, this Boardwalk monument at 38th Street filled a real gap: Virginia Beach — where the earliest Navy SEAL predecessors first came together in 1942, before the famous wartime training at Fort Pierce began — had remained the only major SEAL heritage site with no public marker for the general public. Its centerpiece, 'The Naked Warrior,' is a life-size bronze of a WWII Underwater Demolition Team swimmer atop a beach obstacle, ringed by black granite walls carrying roughly 100 photographs spanning the full history of SEALs and their forerunners, gold-engraved honors for Medal of Honor recipients and the fallen, and a 'Living Beach' built from sand gathered at more than 80 historically significant sites. A time capsule embedded in the monument stays sealed until 2067. Free and open to the public year-round at the north end of the Boardwalk.
- Free
- Family Friendly
Amenities
- Bronze 'Naked Warrior' statue
- Black granite history walls (~100 photographs)
- Living Beach sand memorial
- Sealed time capsule (opens 2067)
Know Before You Go
- Best for: military families, history buffs, a Boardwalk stop at the north end
- Parking: Oceanfront municipal parking nearby; no dedicated lot.
- Accessibility: Open, paved Boardwalk-level public monument.
- Dogs: allowed — Leashed dogs are permitted on the Boardwalk 6am-7pm; summer beach restrictions apply on the sand.
- Location: Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 38th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-11.
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While You're in the Area
Abbey Road Pub & Restaurant
Beatles-themed pub a block off the beach at 22nd Street — 42 taps, live music, a dog-friendly patio, and a Monday military discount.
- Dog Friendly
- Live Music
- Outdoor Seating
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Adventure Parasail & Rudee Inlet Jet Ski
Virginia Beach's original watersports operator since 1985 — parasailing, jet ski and kayak/SUP rentals, and banana boat rides at Rudee Inlet.
AquaMan Sportfishing Charters
Two-boat Rudee Inlet charter operation — The Flat Line and The Game On — running inshore, nearshore, and offshore deep-sea trips around the clock.
Barclay Cottage Inn
The oldest lodging in Virginia Beach still open to guests — an 1895 cottage with five rooms and wrap-around porches two blocks from the boardwalk.
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Barclay Towers Resort Hotel
All-suite Boardwalk tower at 9th Street — 138 two-room suites, every one with a full kitchen and ocean-view balcony, plus a heated indoor pool.
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Bay Venture Boat Rentals
Self-drive 24-foot pontoon boat rentals for exploring Linkhorn Bay, Broad Bay, and the Lynnhaven Inlet — no boater's license required.
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Upcoming Events Nearby
Neptune's Coastal Craft Beer Festival
August 15, 2026 · annual
The Neptune Festival's 11th annual beer afternoon takes over 31st Street Park with more than 60 beers from around 30 breweries, heavy on the coastal Virginia scene. Two bands play through the 3–8pm session and local food trucks handle the eating. It's a compact, single-day festival — an easy add-on to a mid-August beach day, a block off the boardwalk at Neptune's Park.
Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships
August 23, 2026 – August 30, 2026 · annual
The world's oldest continuously running surfing competition returns for its 64th year, turning the south end of the Oceanfront — from the 1st Street Jetty up to 10th Street — into a week-long surf carnival. More than 850 competitors surf pro and amateur divisions, including a WSL qualifying event, while the beach fills out with skate and BMX demos, live music, and tournament games. It's the anchor event of late summer at the beach and the best week of the year to watch serious surfing at the 1st Street break.
Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party
August 28, 2026 – August 29, 2026 · annual
A free two-day beach party on the Oceanfront closing out August with funk, R&B, and soul acts on the sand. Part of the official Beach Events season, Funk Fest draws a big, dance-heavy crowd to the resort beach for one of the last major music weekends before Labor Day — no ticket needed, just claim a patch of sand.