The United States Navy officially traces its establishment to October 13, 1775, reaching 250 years in 2025.
On that date, the Second Continental Congress authorized the purchase of two vessels to be armed for a cruise against British merchant ships. The resolution created the Continental Navy, which the modern Navy recognizes as its institutional origin.
The Continental Navy was a wartime force and was largely disbanded after the American Revolution. Congress later established a permanent standing Navy through the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized construction of six frigates. The service therefore has both a Revolutionary-era origin and a later permanent institutional foundation.
The Navy’s anniversary is separate from America250, which commemorated the 1776 declaration of independence. The dates are closely connected: the Navy reached its 250th anniversary in 2025, while the United States reached its 250th national anniversary in 2026.