During the 1930s for one or two days each October the Washington Navy Yard and Naval Gun Factory celebrated "Navy Day." Navy Day was the one day each year that the normally secured Yard would be opened to the general public. Each Navy Day, proud employees were excited and ready to show off their workplace. Employees put on special demonstrations of how cannons were forged and showed their craft skills in the breaking down of a 15 ton ingot and the making of gun cartridges. Employees also gave tours of the physical test and metallurgy laboratory. In 1936, The Washington Post reported, "Over 200,000 visitors were expected." The report went on to state "the huge plant on the Anacostia River now in the midst of the busiest year in peace time history will place itself at the disposal of thousands of men, women and children eager to see one of the great cannon cradles in operation." The Post reporter wrote that "thousands upon thousands of visitors will seize the opportunity offered by Navy Day. They will look upon the origins of ship cannons, a rare treat indeed since most people who have met the guns only in newsreels and movie thrillers are in for an experience they will never forget"
(Washington Post 23 October 1936, 1).

The Navy Day programs had a large active and reserve forces presence visitors could tours naval ships, precision flying displays and gunnery practice with the latest ordnance. Visitors in 1938 could fire a naval gun for 10cents or send a radiogram to friends at home . All proceeds went to the Navy Relief Fund. At the end of the 1930's heighten concerns regarding industrial security and possible infiltration by foreign intelligence agents meant that Navy Day activities were canceled and the yard closed to the public and remain so till the end of WWII
(Washington Daily News, 22 October 1939, 2).