Is a 160,000 square foot museum big enough for 500 vehicles?
Today is Veterans Day, and although today is the day, we specifically recognize veterans for their patriotism, love of the country, willingness to serve and sacrifice. I am thankful every day to those who have served and grateful to meet the ones who’ve made it home and especially the ones who have made it to old age.
I have a nephew who is still a fresh Navy recruit. His dad, my brother, is now retired from the Navy. Both of my grandpas were in WWII. My wife served in the Army and I served 11 years as a crew chief on the a10s and c130s. I understand how difficult it can be to not only serve in the military but also have loved ones who served.
So, although today is officially Veterans Day, just know myself and most other people are grateful for our veterans every day.
I’m on the road this week. I’m heading north for a meeting that will take me to the Auburn Cord Duesenber Museum for the first time. Hopefully, I’ll also be able to visit the National Automotive and truck Museum of the United States and the Early Ford V8 Foundation Museum nearby.
The Klairmont Kollections is also a super cool museum that has been on my list of museums to visit for some time, and it looks like I may be able to make it happen on Wednesday morning since they aren’t open on Tuesday. That is one of the biggest challenges of traveling and trying to fit museum visits in. The schedule doesn’t always make it possible, even though the museum is so close.
These are all bonus museums so far. You can click the bold name to learn more about each of them. This week, I want to share some military museums with you.
First up is the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum. This museum shares Marine vehicles used from WWI to the present day. The majority of the vehicles in the collection are in running condition, thanks to the work of retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Jim King and his hearty band of volunteers, aptly named “the Dirty Docents.”
On the opposite side of the country, you can visit the U.S. Army Transportation Museum. This museum has over 7,000 artifacts and 135 military vehicles on display. I have personally been to this museum, and it’s fascinating to see all the different vehicles on display.
If you want to go more towards the center of the country, you can visit the National Museum of Military Vehicles. This museum is 160,000 square feet with over 500 military vehicles on display. This museum is called the National Museum for a reason.
If you served in the military, thank you! If you had to deal with your loved one going off to serve, thank you for sticking around, it means a lot.
Have a great week!
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Sean Mathis
Creator of Automotive Museum Guide
Founder of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum
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P.S. Make sure you follow AMG on Facebook and join the FB Group to see what’s going on at all the museums.
Explore Automotive Museums in
California
Marine Corps Mechanized Museum
Marine Corps Mechanized Museum contains working Marine Corps transport and battle vehicles and interprets the history of Marine Corps vehicular usage from World War I (WW I) to the present day.
Explore Automotive Museums in
Wyoming
National Museum of Military Vehicles
The focus of the museum is to tell the stories of how these vehicles were used and to remember the valor of service members who fought, and sometimes died, in them.
Explore Automotive Museums in
Virginia
US Army Transportation Museum
The US Army Transportation Museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit & interpret the history of transportation in the U.S. Army, from 1775 to the present.
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