Another Great Find--National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center

Columbus, Georgia
Lake Pines RV Park

Sharon and Roger Hime visited this museum earlier this year and when I read about what they had to say, I knew Bill would enjoy it.  I didn't expect to be blown away by it too, though.  

When we arrived at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, the morning graduation ceremony was just getting over.  A docent told us later that the public is free to attend any which are usually held ever Friday.  

Just a note to those who plan to attend it.  They have shorter hours on Sunday and are closed on Mondays.  There is another parking lot for buses, if you happen to be in an RV.  Parking is free and the admission is free but suggest a $5.00 per person donation.

There is no way you will be able to see it all in one day.  It just won't happen.  The Museum is 190,000 square feet and opened in June of 2009.

Make sure you leave your pocket knife in your vehicle so you don't have to go back once they wand you.  

You enter the museum through the "Last 100 Yards".  This wasn't a normal museum, you felt like you were right in the middle of different conflicts.  

When the docent told us this section represented all the wars from the Revolutionary to present, I wasn't expecting this.

It isn't just the depicting the battle, there is sound and lights making you feel like you are there.  Some of the exhibits have the floor shaking.

Capture of Redoubt #10--American Revolution

Battle of Antietam--Civil War

Battle of Soissons--World War I

Photos can't capture the feeling you get walking up through this.

Omaha Beach--World War II

These are all life size figures.  Each one of the faces is the face of a different man who fought in that conflict.

Mullett's  Bayonet Attack--Korean War

Vietnam War

This IED was in Afghanistan or Iraq, sorry I can't remember now.

This museum is less than 10 years old and so well done.

I've never seen a belly flopper like this before.

I had to take a photo of the recognition Pat Tillman received.

Harley Davidson was represented.

We went down stairs and found out there were even larger exhibits.

When I read this sign I started thinking about the Berman Museum that I blogged about earlier this week.  I kept wondering how he acquired all the artifacts.  He was a spy.........I wonder.  

I wouldn't have been surprised to see something like this in the Berman Museum.

I wasn't sure I wanted to open the door and go into this one, but I made sure Bill was right beside me.  I can't imagine what it was like in the Vietnam War.  

There were so many different sections--not rooms but huge sections.

What a treasure to have Saddam Hussein's Presentation Sword.

Everything seemed so real.

Look at the faces on these men.  How they could capture this is beyond me.

The Spanish-American War, The Philippine Insurrection and World War I were in another section.

There were docents around so you could ask questions, but I didn't think to ask them how long it took to put all of this together.

There was a Medal of Honor Room and they have photos of some, but are missing photos of other recipients.  

I thought this was unique.  It was called a turtle shell which was a form of personal armor.  They could crawl on the ground  and go through barbed wire fields.

Remember these are all life size.

I liked this display of a Sherman Tank.

The video and audio show what the responsibilities of the men in the tank did.

Bill and I were talking about how realistic these were.  The men even had mud on the bottom of their shoes. 

The docent's told us that there were more displays outside.

This was the Vietnam Wall display that was viewed in over 200 cities. 

I don't mind telling you that I'm exhausted.  Thankfully, it was a beautiful day.

Inouye Field had soil from eight battlefields mixed into the soil on the field.  

There were some tanks and other large vehicles to the left. 

See the buildings far off in the distance.  Patton's quarters were also there.  There was no way I could walk any further.

We walked back to the truck and once I climbed in I saw a golf cart taking people back to the parade grounds.  Wish I'd have seen that earlier.

We never did find the Drum and Fife Restaurant so we stopped at this unique Burger King for a milkshake.

They do do things differently in the south.

I guess the train used to run by this location.

The park is filling up.  It's nice but not worth the price since it isn't Passport America anymore.

As I started to throw away the brochure they gave me today, I noticed that their was a whole floor we missed.  No wonder we couldn't find the Drum and Fife.  I told you one day isn't enough.  

Turtle Safely.........