How Many Air/Ship/Armor/Car Museums Have You Visited, And Where?

U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, CA 

Channel Islands Maritime Museum, Oxnard, CA 

Nevada Southern Railway, Boulder City, NV 

Commemorative Air Force, Southern California Wing, Camarillo, CA

The next museum I'd like to visit someday: 

National Construction Equipment Museum, Bowling Green, OH

American Military Museum (aka Tankland), South El Monte, CA

stikpusher

Devil Dawg, McClellan AFB is near Sacramento, CA. It is where they modified the Doolittle Raider aircraft before they were embarked upon USS Hornet. They had a very good display on that mission and a bit about each individual raider aircraft. Next on my list to hit here are USS Iowa and USS Lane Victory, which are berthed near one another here. There is also the Ft MacArthur museum close by, but I have yet to go in there when it is open. I have been up to the old gun battery mounts many times. Those have been used in a few older movies back in the day.

I used to drive past Fort McClellan in Anniston, AL, quite a bit when I lived in Georgia, so I thought that maybe there was an Air Force base there that I didn't know about. If I remember correctly, Fort McClellan is where the M1 Abrams tanks are rebuilt & modified. Based on what you just said about McClellan AFB, I need to get out there and see that one. 

pyrman64

• Motts' Military Museum (Groveport, OH)
• Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor (Ft Knox, Ky)
• National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH)
• World War II Vehicle Museum & Learning Center (Hubbard, Ohio)
• Historic WACO Airfield Museum (Troy, OH)
• Museum of Science & Industry (Chicago, IL)
• WWII Victory Museum (Auburn, IN)
• Kruse Automotive Horse Power and Carriage Museum (Auburn, IN)
• U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Museum (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD)
• NASA/Kennedy Space Center (Merritt Island, FL)
• USS Cod (Cleveland, OH)
• Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center (Columbus, OH)
• Fire Museum of Greater Coincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)

There are quite a few in your list that I haven't heard of, pyrman64, which means I need to go see them. I've driven past the WWII Victory Museum in Auburn, IN, many times going to and from hospitals (for work) in Michigan, and never had a chance to stop and look around. Now, I live nowhere near the place, so I don't when I'll ever get the chance to go back. Probably the only museum I've ever passed up. 

Dawg, I don't know what the current status of McClellan AFB is. The base realignment committee hit California hard in the late 90s and it may have been closed. I went there when I was in commo school thru the Guard in 97. The museum collection itself I thought was fantastic. On every USAF bird on display they had a plaque with that aircraft's individual service history

My wife and I went up to the university last night to see our daughter. She designed, sewed and modeled a gown for a gala fashion show raising money for Red Dress, the Women's Heart Health organization. A fine time was had by all, and after the show I took them to a really nice restaurant.

Over cocktails I told them about this thread, which I think is a great one. As was said, I am definitely writing down everyone's contribution. I travel a lot on business, so I hope to be able to see some of these this year.

Daughter is a real museum buff (I wonder why?) tending more towards fine art. She commented that a major reason she likes museums is the buildings they are housed in; often re-purposed historic structures. I thought that was a great point and I'm proud to share it.

Here goes my list

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago

First Division Museum at Cantigny outside Chicago

Museum of the Air Force Dayton

Pima Air and Space Phoenix

Titan Missile Museum outside Tucson

Warner Robbins

Eglin Air Force Base Museum

Wisconsin National Guard Museum at Camp Douglas/Volk Field

John C. Stennis Rocket test center

Cape Canaveral

U.S. Space and Rocket Center Huntsville, AL

Air and Space Smithsonian

Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian

U.S.S. North Carolina

U.S.S. Alabama

U.S.S. Arizona

U.S.S. Missouri

U.S.S. Yorktown

Illinois Train Museum at Union

U.S.S. Constitution

Chanute Air Museum

Science center in St. Louis (McDonnell Douglas exhibit)

U.S. Air Force Academy

Several Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields

I think that's about all.

John

Great list. DD you'll need to make a master list at some point.

I have been to the USS Intrepid in NYC, the USS Yorktown in Charleston, SC and the Pampanito in Frisco Bay.

I also visited the USS Olympia in Philly and The Imperial War Museum in England and the HMS Belfast moored on the River Thames. I actually saw a piece of the Bismarck that's on display there. I have been to the Air and Space Museum in DC. Also visited Week's Air Museum when he was located at the Tamiami Airport in South Dade County, Florida.

Lessee...

National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC

USS Constitution in Boston - didn't go aboard due to long lines but did get on a Destroyer that was moored across from him. Can't remember the name of the ship though

Nautilus Submarine museum in Groton, MA

Salem, MA Loads of different museums including a schooner /clipper ship on display

Pax River Naval Air Station. Lexington Park, MD. I will say this - this is not during an air show nor am I in the armed service or employed by the federal government.

Paxtuxent River Air Museum, Lexington Park, MD

National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA

Air and Space Museums in both DC and Dulles.

USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor as well as the Aviation museum there (can't remember the name)

National DDay Memorial in Bedford, VA (maybe it's not a museum per say, but lots of information there as well as the memorial)

There's also a really cool auto museum outside Lurray Caverns, VA if I remember correctly.

That's all the ones that I can remember, not counting all the Civil War museums in and around Fredericksburg

Let's see......

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio

Pioneers of Flight at the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan

Fantasy of Flight, Orlampa, Florida (amazing museum)

The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Goal: The National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

stikpusher

Dawg, I don't know what the current status of McClellan AFB is. The base realignment committee hit California hard in the late 90s and it may have been closed. I went there when I was in commo school thru the Guard in 97. The museum collection itself I thought was fantastic. On every USAF bird on display they had a plaque with that aircraft's individual service history

I like reading about an aircraft's (or anything else that I'm looking at) individual service history, too. I find it very interesting reading. Too bad that the government has had to shut down some of our military bases, but I understand why that has to be.

GMorrison

My wife and I went up to the university last night to see our daughter. She designed, sewed and modeled a gown for a gala fashion show raising money for Red Dress, the Women's Heart Health organization. A fine time was had by all, and after the show I took them to a really nice restaurant.

Over cocktails I told them about this thread, which I think is a great one. As was said, I am definitely writing down everyone's contribution. I travel a lot on business, so I hope to be able to see some of these this year.

Daughter is a real museum buff (I wonder why?) tending more towards fine art. She commented that a major reason she likes museums is the buildings they are housed in; often re-purposed historic structures. I thought that was a great point and I'm proud to share it.

Mr. Morrison, you have just completely made my day with this reply. A big reason why I posted this is because I travel quite a bit on business myself (just got back from Wilmington, NC, a few hours ago, driving through a heavy snow storm), and love to visit museums any time I get the chance, whether it be aviation, armor, cars, ships, etc., so I figured I'd get the skinny on more of the museums that I've never heard of and see what new things I can see/visit.  Never thought about the buildings that they're housed in, though. Your daughter is very astute and bright! 

You mentioned in a later post that I should compile everyone's response into a master listing of some kind - that is not a bad idea. I will definitely give that same thought.

Thanks again for thinking that this was a great idea - made my day!

Gary Mason

wolfhammer1

Here goes my list

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago

First Division Museum at Cantigny outside Chicago

Museum of the Air Force Dayton

Pima Air and Space Phoenix

Titan Missile Museum outside Tucson

Warner Robbins

Eglin Air Force Base Museum

Wisconsin National Guard Museum at Camp Douglas/Volk Field

John C. Stennis Rocket test center

Cape Canaveral

U.S. Space and Rocket Center Huntsville, AL

Air and Space Smithsonian

Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian

U.S.S. North Carolina

U.S.S. Alabama

U.S.S. Arizona

U.S.S. Missouri

U.S.S. Yorktown

Illinois Train Museum at Union

U.S.S. Constitution

Chanute Air Museum

Science center in St. Louis (McDonnell Douglas exhibit)

U.S. Air Force Academy

Several Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields

I think that's about all.

John

Heckuva list there, wolf! 

It's amazing how many historical places our country has, and how few people know about them (I know - "few" is a relative term). Based on this listing, we have way more than I ever thought. Cool stuff, folks! Keep on adding to this list!  

I forgot to add the Weeks museum in Florida and the NASA museum as well. If that doesn't creatate an urge to model something 'space' nothing will.

Yesterday while I was doing some Internet surfing I discovered that there is another air museum locally that I have not yet visited. At Torrance Airport/Zamperini Field, there is the Western Museum of Flight, that apparently has a good collection of warbirds and Northrop aircraft... Guess I have something to do on my days off in the spring :-)

Heckuva list there, wolf!

It's amazing how many historical places our country has, and how few people know about them (I know - "few" is a relative term). Based on this listing, we have way more than I ever thought. Cool stuff, folks! Keep on adding to this list!

You know, most of those were discovered when my family would pile into the station wagon, pick a direction and drive.  The Stennis space center was discovered as we drove past it and thought it would be a neat place to stop.  We discovered Huntsville the in a similar way.  As you drive into Alabama and approach the first rest  area and welcome center, you get the sight of as Saturn 1B right on the side of the road.  The best way to find things is to go and be open to finding them.  

Happy adventures all!

John

I've been to a few.

-Two near where I live: The American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York and the Cradle of Aviation in Uniondale, New York located on what used to be Mitchell Field.

-The Intrepid Air and Space Museum;

-The USS Massachusetts, along with the Sumner-Class destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, the USS Lionfish, and a Soviet corvette that's moored alongside the battleship (there's also a model exhibit onboard the Massachusetts :P);

-The USS New Jersey

-The Smithsonian Air and Space museum;

-NASA/ Kennedy Space Center a long while ago;

-theres a small Aviation museum that I visited a few years ago where I picked up two very nice older kits from the 1980's for a good price that where just sitting in a large pile;

-a car museum that i forgot the name of and where it is;

-The US Marine Corps. museum outside of the Quantico Marine Base

I know I've been to a few more but I forgot which ones. I'm only 18 but I have a horrible memory. I got some nice pictures of a Huey Hog and a Huey Cobra at the USS Massachusetts.

And I'm sorry if it's tough to read :L

Lets see where I've been

National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola FL

Air Museum of the Carolinas, Charlotte NC

Flying Leatherneck Museum, MCAS Miramar

Patriots Point, Charleston SC

USS North Carolina, Wilmington NC

US Army Ordnance Museum, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Maryland

USS Arizona Memorial and Museum, Pearl Harbor HI

USS Missouri Memorial and Museum, Pearl Harbor HI

USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum, Pearl Harbor HI

National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC

I and my family have been to

Evergreen air museum   McMinnville Or.

Tillamook Air museum    Tillamook Or.

Museum of Flight               Seattle, Wa.

USS Blueback at OMSI     Portland, Or.

USS Arizona                        Honululu, Hi.

USS Missouri                      Honululu, Hi

USS Bowfin                         Honululu, Hi.

Pima Air Museum               Tucson, Az.

Mental note to go through this thread and create a list of places to go.....

Off the top of my head I've been to:

The Intrepid (back when it first opened)

Warner Robins Museum of Aviation

USS New Jersey

Wow, folks! Many more replies than I thought this thread would get. Great stuff! Based on a suggestion by GMorrison, I will compile all of the sites into a one-stop listing for everyone. I'll probably put it in Word & Excel format, and will e-mail to anyone who requests it. I will do my best to keep it updated. I'll post when the list is ready.

In the mean time, keep posting more historical sites, whether it be car, train, plane, armor, ship, sub, battle fields, forts, etc.  

Thank you to this forum....I am in San Francisco on business.  And, while trying to snap pictures of the Rock, I saw the USS Pampanito tied up.  Of course a wonder over had me on the boat taking the audio tour.  I would never have known if it were not for this forum.  That was a great tour...especially not having been on a sub before.  I admit...it felt a little weird when I was in the engine room and the boat was rocking...

Cool. G-J! Glad to know that this thread is getting some use. I'll try to have the compilation of all of the sites completed soon. Work seems to get in the way of my personal time so much..........

I've been to the Canadian War Museum, both old and new, several times.  I've also been to the Imperial War Museum in London 4 or 5 times.  I've visited the Tank Museum at Bovington twice.

In what town is the Canadian War Museum located, Buff?

It's in Ottawa, about a 5-10 minute or so drive from Parliament Hill.

Cool. I'll make sure that it gets added to the listing that I'm hoping to start on soon, if I can ever get home........

Good luck.  The new one is so much bigger than the old one was.  There is a lot to see, and the vehicle collection in the LeBreton Gallery is cool.  The book store has a decent selection, but is ridiculously overpriced.