The U.S. Army announced Tuesday that the National Museum of the United States Army will begin welcoming visitors for the first time on Veterans Day, November 11. The museum was originally set to open over the summer, but its opening was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the museum is a joint effort between the U.S. Army and the non-profit Army Historical Foundation. The museum showcases the history of the Army since its establishment in 1775.
The foundation constructed the building using private funds, and the Army provided the infrastructure, utilities, roads, and exhibit work, according to a press release. The AHF manages the museum’s retail, special events, and catering, while the Army owns and operates the museum.
“The National Army Museum will be a place for members of the total Army family to gather and share their stories, while also creating an opportunity for visitors to connect with our nation’s history through the eyes and voices of individual Soldiers,” Secretary of the Army, Ryan D. McCarthy, said in the news release.
The museum features galleries filled with artifacts that illustrate the Army’s role in “building and defending our nation,” and that detail Army humanitarian missions, and medical and technological developments “built on army ingenuity,” according to video from the museum.
There’s also an on-site theater, and an Experiential Learning Center for visitors to participate in hands-on educational activities centered around science, engineering, technology, geography, and math.
“The museum is stunning, and it is an honor to present this history in a way that shows the connection between the American Soldier, the U.S. Army and the nation,” the museum’s director, Tammy E. Call, said in the release.
The museum previously announced that its intended June opening would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as some finishing work on the galleries had been suspended, pushing the project’s timeline back.
Like many museums operating during the pandemic, the National Museum of the United States Army will open with health and safety protocols in place. Tickets are free, but guests are required to reserve time slots. Visitors over the age of 2 must wear face masks and the museum will implement social distancing measures, among other steps.
Ahead of the opening, the museum will host a small ceremony that will be livestreamed “to encourage people around the world to participate in this historic moment.” A link will be posted to the museum’s website and on social media when it becomes available.
