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| A Report on the National Infantry Museum’s Grand Reopening 19 June 2009. |
First off, I will admit I was not at the event. I had visited the old museum many
times over the years and hate big galas with large crowds. And that was what was
there for the opening. Gen Colin Powell was the key note speaker. 4,000 were
reported in attendance. Question was, were they there for the museum or to be near
him? For me I waited several days before visiting.
Now for the part that ya’ll will find interesting, what’s in the place. The new
museum is worth the reported $106million spent. There is plenty of room for later
expansion. The left pic is the front. It does not reflex the true size of this massive
place. The right pic is part of the WWI era gallery. Most of these basketball court
size galleries have a full scale mock up of some famous feature of the era. This is two
men going over the top of the trench into No-Man’s land. Each gallery is full of
artifacts and these mock-ups. There are over 40 monitors were visitors can stop and
listen to a narrative.
The list of galleries includes: The Sole Superpower, The Cold War, A World
Power, The International Stage, Defining the Nation. Securing Our Freedoms, Fort
Benning, The (Soldier’s) Family, The Medal of Honor, OSC Hall of Honor and the
Ranger Hall of Honor. Outside is the WWII Company Street. Seven of the last
remaining WWII wooden buildings were moved to the site to create this scene.
Buildings include a barracks, chapel, admin, a mess hall and many artifacts to give
that 1944 look. WWII reenactors will love the place. My war was Nam and I
remember the buildings. Also outside is the graduation field. All graduations for Ft.
Benning schools will be held there. Visitors can watch OCS, Basic, Ranger and
others march across the field.
Before you see any of those you first pass through the Last 100 Yards Ramp. The
visitor passes through full scale scenes, such as in the right pic, from 8 major battles
in the history of the US Infantry. Several old timers I was near had tears.
Once you have visited the museum in the same building, but not part of the
museum, is an IMAX theater, The Fife and Drum restaurant and bar and the Soldier
Store. All are open to the public. These stay open to 10pm.
For those wanting to visit the museum the hours are 9 to 5 Mon - Sat. 11 to 5
Sun. Closed Christmas and New Years. The National Civil War Naval Museum and
Fort Mitchell are close. Andersonville Cemetery and its Prisoner of War Museum is
an hour down the road.
The Museum is not actually on Ft. Benning. It is situated so visitors do not have
to go through the hassle of obtaining a day pass for the Fort. Access is by either Ft.
Benning Boulevard or South Lumpkin Road.
The area is now a full week’s worth of Military History.
times over the years and hate big galas with large crowds. And that was what was
there for the opening. Gen Colin Powell was the key note speaker. 4,000 were
reported in attendance. Question was, were they there for the museum or to be near
him? For me I waited several days before visiting.
Now for the part that ya’ll will find interesting, what’s in the place. The new
museum is worth the reported $106million spent. There is plenty of room for later
expansion. The left pic is the front. It does not reflex the true size of this massive
place. The right pic is part of the WWI era gallery. Most of these basketball court
size galleries have a full scale mock up of some famous feature of the era. This is two
men going over the top of the trench into No-Man’s land. Each gallery is full of
artifacts and these mock-ups. There are over 40 monitors were visitors can stop and
listen to a narrative.
The list of galleries includes: The Sole Superpower, The Cold War, A World
Power, The International Stage, Defining the Nation. Securing Our Freedoms, Fort
Benning, The (Soldier’s) Family, The Medal of Honor, OSC Hall of Honor and the
Ranger Hall of Honor. Outside is the WWII Company Street. Seven of the last
remaining WWII wooden buildings were moved to the site to create this scene.
Buildings include a barracks, chapel, admin, a mess hall and many artifacts to give
that 1944 look. WWII reenactors will love the place. My war was Nam and I
remember the buildings. Also outside is the graduation field. All graduations for Ft.
Benning schools will be held there. Visitors can watch OCS, Basic, Ranger and
others march across the field.
Before you see any of those you first pass through the Last 100 Yards Ramp. The
visitor passes through full scale scenes, such as in the right pic, from 8 major battles
in the history of the US Infantry. Several old timers I was near had tears.
Once you have visited the museum in the same building, but not part of the
museum, is an IMAX theater, The Fife and Drum restaurant and bar and the Soldier
Store. All are open to the public. These stay open to 10pm.
For those wanting to visit the museum the hours are 9 to 5 Mon - Sat. 11 to 5
Sun. Closed Christmas and New Years. The National Civil War Naval Museum and
Fort Mitchell are close. Andersonville Cemetery and its Prisoner of War Museum is
an hour down the road.
The Museum is not actually on Ft. Benning. It is situated so visitors do not have
to go through the hassle of obtaining a day pass for the Fort. Access is by either Ft.
Benning Boulevard or South Lumpkin Road.
The area is now a full week’s worth of Military History.
