Museums worth a stop or specific trip

[Gregg]

It is rather out of the way, but:

Peoples Liberation Army Museum, Beijing China

Really a very interesting place; Japanese-China War, Chinese Civil War, Korea, Vietnam & Cold War Era.
Really three museums in the same place:
Tanks/Artillery and Aircraft (both out side) and the main Museum (guns, uniforms, missiles and such).
The most memorable was the display case that was 6 foot tall, 3 foot deep and at least 30 feet long, filled with surrendered Japanese swords.

[Major Shane]

ORIGINAL: JeffroK

ORIGINAL: Major Shane

National World War I museum, Kansas City, Missouri. https://www.theworldwar.org

Been there (around 2004 before it was the National museum, Custodian/Guard/Guide whatever had little idea of WW1 beyond the USA involvement

Sorry to hear that. My first visit was 2008. I have been back 4 times since, most rrecently 2015. I think a lot has changed. Many of the volunteers are retired or former military. You should go again if you are in the area.

[Major Shane]

ORIGINAL: wegman58

IF you go to Mount Rushmore, a side trip (depending on where you come from 10-15 minutes out of the way, about an hour to walk around) to Ellsworth AFB might be worth the trip unless you've seen statics before. B-29 and other stuff.

Washington, DC - the Smithsonian Air and Space. Natural History Museum is cool - they have a Foucault pendulum (proves the world moves).

NYC - the INTREPID and their museum of Natural History.

Visited the Ellsworth museum last year. The tour of the Minuteman command silo is one of a kind. Very neat tour.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn



The Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning Ga. use to be a "Library of Alexandria" of the American Infantryman.

After it was redone in 2009 it's now a "Walt Disney World of Propaganda" for our latest "War on.....".

Been there around 2017 when my son graduated Ranger school...lots of diorama's or that is my memory. Stayed at the Hampton Inn right next door...or at least I think it was a Hampton.

The museum at West Point is nice...and very small, but worth it especially on a football weekend. Tailgate!
[:)]

[USSAmerica]

I'll add the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, NC. It is very well maintained and has more spaces open to tour than I ever could imagine.

Also, the Naval Aviation Museum on Pensacola Naval Air Station is a fantastic place with the bonus of getting the see the Blue Angels practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, right behind the museum. [&o]

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: Major Shane

ORIGINAL: JeffroK

ORIGINAL: Major Shane

National World War I museum, Kansas City, Missouri. https://www.theworldwar.org

Been there (around 2004 before it was the National museum, Custodian/Guard/Guide whatever had little idea of WW1 beyond the USA involvement

Sorry to hear that. My first visit was 2008. I have been back 4 times since, most rrecently 2015. I think a lot has changed. Many of the volunteers are retired or former military. You should go again if you are in the area.

A bit of a drive for a weekend visit.

[btd64]

USS Constitution. Oldest commissioned ship in the navy. Boston Harbor. Take the tour....GP

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: wegman58

IF you go to Mount Rushmore, a side trip (depending on where you come from 10-15 minutes out of the way, about an hour to walk around) to Ellsworth AFB might be worth the trip unless you've seen statics before. B-29 and other stuff.

Washington, DC - the Smithsonian Air and Space. Natural History Museum is cool - they have a Foucault pendulum (proves the world moves).

NYC - the INTREPID and their museum of Natural History.

I think they removed the pendulum. I've been there numerous times since 2010 and never seen it. So far as I know, I've seen the whole thing...

[Anachro]

Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona

[SierraJuliet]

If Japan is on your itinerary there are some very good places to visit and while away time.

Kure has an excellent naval museum with that exceptionally large model of Yamato. Various items salvaged from Mutsu, models of all manner of Japanese vessels and masses of resources (ability to read Japanese is a bonus).

Yokohoma has Hikawa Maru moored in very close proximity to The New Grand Hotel of Macarthur fame post war.

Yokosuka has a big fleet base with a water tour of the harbour - plenty of close ups of Japanese and US ships. A short stroll through town and Mikasa awaits. Amazing to stand in the same spot that Togo stood during the Battle of Tsushima. Friendly guides on board who are more than willing to engage in conversation.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: LST Express

National museum of the Pacific war, Fredericksburg Texas.

Yup. Been there 4 or 5 times now. It's a 'must see' if you're anywhere near the Austin or San Antonio area.

[geofflambert]

I had been to the ordinance museum at Aberdeen Proving grounds but they moved all the stuff to Ft. Lee, VA. Besides all the vehicles they have some huge railguns.

[geofflambert]

I've been meaning to visit the Artillery museum at Ft. Sill, OK. They have a lot of self-propelled stuff I'd really like to see.

[geofflambert]

In one trip, you can see the North Carolina in Wilmington, the Yorktown in Charleston along with Ft. Sumter.

[geofflambert]

.

[geofflambert]

Also while at Charleston you can see the USS Laffey

[geofflambert]

And the USS Clamagore

[geofflambert]

.

[geofflambert]

In Philadelphia you can see the USS Olympia

[geofflambert]

In Baltimore you can see the USS Constellation. In Mobile you can see the USS Alabama. In Galveston You can see the USS Texas. In Portland OR you can see the USS Blueback. Her interior was used in the movie Hunt for Red October