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Mike Medford Sr. recently visited the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas. He was amazed at the detailed information presented within the exhibits and wanted to share some background information on the Museum. If you are looking for a neat road trip to take, the National Vietnam War Museum is worth a visit!
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About The National Vietnam War Museum via nationalvnwarmuseum.org:
“The National Vietnam War Museum project was formalized in 1998 to develop a national venue that would create an atmosphere of learning about the Vietnam War era, and engage people of all ages, nationalities, and political points of view.
In 1999, the museum was incorporated as a 501(c) (3) corporation in the State of Texas and purchased a 12-acre site in Mineral Wells, Texas, approximately 50 miles west of Fort Worth. In addition to establishing a Board of Directors, the museum established a Board of Visitors, prominent individuals selected to advise the Board of Directors and promote the museum’s cause. The museum has also established sponsorship relationships with a number of local and national veterans’ organizations to promote the museum to their memberships.
The museum will be designed to tell the unbiased story of the more than 5 million servicemen and women who served there; the civilian contractors who supported their efforts; the Vietnamese people, their culture and history; and those on the home front, both those who supported and those who protested the war.”
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Exhibits
The museum currently has an impressive display of indoor and outdoor exhibits to create a sense of understanding of this era for each visitor. The outdoor exhibits are a stunning sight and are available for public view even during times the Museum Visitor Center is closed. Authentic troop carriers, a Huey helicopter, a Memorial Garden with a 300-foot replica of the Moving Wall, a half-scale version of the Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and memorial stones and plaques are a few of the items on display.
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The indoor exhibit includes a Visitor Center that is staffed entirely by volunteers. It contains a small gallery that is used to display artifacts and various exhibits, such as the Southern Airways Exhibit, which was the training facility for the helicopter pilots to fly in the war. Another is the Hootch Exhibit, detailing the living areas provided to soldiers throughout the war.
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Museum Development
Funds are currently being raised to complete 4 phases of construction for the main museum building. Phase 1 includes initial construction of the building, which will be 2-story and house 3 galleries: Introduction, The Home Front, and the History of Camp/Fort Wolters. Phase 2 will be the addition of a second structure behind the first, to house 2 or 3 more galleries and a theatre. Phases 3 and 4 will be addition of separate wings for the final galleries. For detailed information about the construction plans and donation opportunities, please visit the Museum’s Website.
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If you are looking for a good place to visit in North Texas, we hope you’ll make a trip out to the National Vietnam Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas. It’s truly an amazing experience to see the unbiased story of the more than 5 million servicemen and women who served; the civilian contractors who supported their efforts; the Vietnamese people, their culture and history; and those on the home front, both those who supported and those who protested the war.
Warm Regards,
The Medford Remodeling Team
