This museum is a top notch, must see for any historian, WWII buff, lover of antique military vehicles, and articles and artifacts from the home front and abroad before, during and after WWII. Not only are the items museum pieces but many run and are demonstrated on property during special events and living history demonstrations.
I had the pleasure of being there during the kickoff of Women's History Month with a Celebration held today, with an Army National Guard Reserve friend today and we were kept occupied for well over 6 hours onsite, visiting and revisiting many displays to gain a better understanding of their design and implementation having questions answered by the team of volunteers and staff assembled. The entire museum from lobby to gift shop, cafe, seminar room and restrooms are wonderfully laid out and accessible by all including those needing wheelchair assistance. In addition, special events such as whole day seminars, group discussions, home-front programs, including food rationing, blackouts, war bond drives, V for Victory, and a variety of educational opportunities including are held through out the year and can be found on a posted calendar featured on the their website. Some of the offerings include:
Interactive Exhibits. High-touch, hands-on experience with various museum displays.
History Programs. Guest speakers, throughout the year, will offer insights into battles, unit histories, technical innovations, and personal stores from WWII.
Leadership programs. Hear stories of role models who stepped up in times of crisis and provided leadership both at home and abroad. Learn what it takes to be a leader like Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, George Patton, Franklin D. Roosevelt, George Marshall, and others.
Authors. Guests will enjoy presentations from a broad range of authors steeped in the details and eager to share tipping points from huge battles to transforming acts of bravery or treason.
Living History. We will depict what it meant to be a soldier, sailor, airman, merchant marine, doctor, or nurse, and portray the people who fulfilled their civic duty at home. Sharing the accounts of those who labored in the factories and on the farms, built shops and airplanes, and volunteered as civil defense workers will give guest a feel for what life was like during this era.
Tours. After viewing the museum, take a guided tour through Gettysburg to learn how this small town mobilized resources for the war effort in WWII. Hear stories of WWII leaders who travelled here. Visit the site of:
A former POW camp
A top-secret psychological warfare training facility
The Navy's secret map-making location
Add a stop at General Eisenhower's home to learn how this famous leader loved history and decided to make Gettysburg his only permanent home. If time allows, you may also visit the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where nearly 500 WWII combat veterans are buried, and learn stories of their sacrifices in the Battle of the Bulge, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and Normandy.
With each visit to the WWII American Experience museum, you can also hear and experience real interviews with soldiers and sailors who served and family members as they share their fears, emotions and perspectives on the war front and the home front.
You are completely immersed in WWII during your visit, so plan on spending a full day on site and stop at their cafe for food and drink to restore your stamina to press on through the displays! This is a new Gettysburg must see for all walks of life from 1-99. Experience the Greatest Generation for yourself, up close and personal. read more