best war museums (2 Viewers)

[redhugh]

I recently got back from a trip to Canberra and was impressed with the War Museum there..they had the me262, the comet , V1 and a very nice world war 1 collection including the red baron's flying boots and other 'souvenirs' from his downed plane, from the time he was shot down and killed.
I have been in the imperial war museum in the UK which is excellent but found the canberra surprisingly good.
Another favourite for me would be the USS hornet in San Francisco which was a fun half day to spend. Any other cool museums out there...

 

[Rob]

I recently got back from a trip to Canberra and was impressed with the War Museum there..they had the me262, the comet , V1 and a very nice world war 1 collection including the red baron's flying boots and other 'souvenirs' from his downed plane, from the time he was shot down and killed.
I have been in the imperial war museum in the UK which is excellent but found the canberra surprisingly good.
Another favourite for me would be the USS hornet in San Francisco which was a fun half day to spend. Any other cool museums out there...[/QDUOTE]

THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM!!

 

[Rob]

But i would say that i'm awfully biased!.There is a great WW1 Museum in Ypres,it was called 'In Flanders fields' museum but it may have changed its name now,its an excellent museum right in the centre of Ypre.Also down on the Somme sector there is another superb museum in Albert,well worth seeing.

Back in London we have the National Army museum near Knightsbridge that tells the History of the British soldier.Also near 10 Downing street we have Churchills cabinet war rooms,see where he lived,worked,slept and planned British operations.Also near London Bridge we have the Britain at war museum,fascinating museum focusing mainly on the blitz.

Upin Cambridgeshire we have 'Duxford', a real Battle of Britain airfield with wonderful aircraft and displays.It has a purpose built American air force museum and an excellent land hall dsiplaying many vehicles from WW2,a great day out indeed.

But for me the IWM is THE one.Any of you in London are well advised to visit as it is imho the best in the world.Come take a look,i'll show you around and try and convince you!

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

I recently got back from a trip to Canberra and was impressed with the War Museum there..they had the me262, the comet , V1 and a very nice world war 1 collection including the red baron's flying boots and other 'souvenirs' from his downed plane, from the time he was shot down and killed.
I have been in the imperial war museum in the UK which is excellent but found the canberra surprisingly good.
Another favourite for me would be the USS hornet in San Francisco which was a fun half day to spend. Any other cool museums out there...[/QDUOTE]

THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM!!

I have to go with Rob on this one. The Imperial War Museum is the coolest war museum I have ever been to. The Jagdpanther with the three shell holes in it, the Cromwell that inflicted the damage, the Hurricane and Mustang hanging in the rafters, the LRDG Chevy 30 cwt truck sandblasted shiny over 30 years in the Libian desert, the old WWI Thorycraft truck mounted with an antiaircraft gun, just to name a few of the excellent pieces on display.

In the United States, there are a few excellent war museums, including the West Point Army Museum, the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, and, of course, the K&C Museum in Roslyn Harbor

 

[Molloy]

But i would say that i'm awfully biased!.There is a great WW1 Museum in Ypres,it was called 'In Flanders fields' museum but it may have changed its name now,its an excellent museum right in the centre of Ypre.Also down on the Somme sector there is another superb museum in Albert,well worth seeing.

Back in London we have the National Army museum near Knightsbridge that tells the History of the British soldier.Also near 10 Downing street we have Churchills cabinet war rooms,see where he lived,worked,slept and planned British operations.Also near London Bridge we have the Britain at war museum,fascinating museum focusing mainly on the blitz.

Upin Cambridgeshire we have 'Duxford', a real Battle of Britain airfield with wonderful aircraft and displays.It has a purpose built American air force museum and an excellent land hall dsiplaying many vehicles from WW2,a great day out indeed.

But for me the IWM is THE one.Any of you in London are well advised to visit as it is imho the best in the world.Come take a look,i'll show you around and try and convince you!

Rob

I've long been a fan of the National Army Museum. First went there nearly a decade ago, and ever since it's almost invariably been on the agenda any time I find myself knocking around Lahn'dan.

Having said that, however, the IWM is nearly iconic in its own right. Rob, forgive me if this sounds like a horribly obvious question, but I've always meant to ask; do you work in the Imperial War Museum?!

Cheers,

Molloy.

 

[Rob]

I've long been a fan of the National Army Museum. First went there nearly a decade ago, and ever since it's almost invariably been on the agenda any time I find myself knocking around Lahn'dan.

Having said that, however, the IWM is nearly iconic in its own right. Rob, forgive me if this sounds like a horribly obvious question, but I've always meant to ask; do you work in the Imperial War Museum?!

Cheers,

Molloy.

I WISH MATE!


Its a wonderful place but so is the National Army museum.I forgot one,there is also the guards museum near Buck House,small but very good.The Chapel outside is very famous as it was here that one of the biggest civilian disasters happened in Britain during WW2. A V1 hit the chapel during a service in June 1944 killing 121 people and injuring many more.Terrible carnage and destruction, however it was rebuilt and now stands as a memorial to those who lost their lives that day.

Of course both the Guards museum and Chapel are right next to the Toy soldier centre next door.

Rob

 

[trooper]

For the AFV specialists there is Bovington Tank Museum and for aviation the RAF Museum at Hendon. Both are extremely good.

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

In the United States, there are a few excellent war museums, including the West Point Army Museum, the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, and, of course, the K&C Museum in Roslyn Harbor

Louis,

You left out the Harrisburg Civil War Museum, which was one of the most incredible museums ever!!!! Also, the National WWII Museum, which I have never been to but would like to go some day...

Vick

 

[Rob]

For the AFV specialists there is Bovington Tank Museum and for aviation the RAF Museum at Hendon. Both are extremely good.

Second that.Both are stunning museums and leaders in their own fields.

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis,

You left out the Harrisburg Civil War Museum, which was one of the most incredible museums ever!!!! Also, the National WWII Museum, which I have never been to but would like to go some day...

Vick

Sorry, Vick, I've never been to either (I would love to visit both) so I didn't feel qualified to render an opinion. By reputation, they certainly should be listed.

 

[1879fanatic]

Rob,
Are there any renowned "Victorian Era" museums that you might know of in sunny Ole' England?
Mike

 

[Ranger]

If you are intrested in Wold War II, there are some really nice musea near Bastogne.. La Gleize-sur-Mont has also a King Tiger outside the museum. In Normandy there are many, but the best are with the smaller, mostly true collectors who have made their hobby a new dimension..

On the other hand, if you are more into the First World War, Ieper should be the place to visit.. Every evening the play the Last Post under the Menenpoort out of respect for the thousands who gave their life..

 

[Ranger]

Almost forgot; since your in Belgium after visiting Ieper en Bastogne, maybe you could also stop in Waterloo near Brussel to visit Napoleons last battle ground.. There is a lot of history to see for such a small country like Belgium.. Seems as it is almost a museum in stead of a country

 

[Rob]

Rob,
Are there any renowned "Victorian Era" museums that you might know of in sunny Ole' England?
Mike

Mike do you mean military museums of that era?

Rob

 

[Deitz]

I am not sure they are the best, but it they are worth a visit if you attend the OTSN in Chicago.

One is the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton Il. The museum is about 15 miles form the hotel. Outside the museum is a tank park that has about 11 tanks from World War to the present and numerous artillery peices.

The other is the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It has an excellent U-boat exhibit, The U-505.

Sorry, I could not post the links to either but thay are easy to find on the web.

 

[GICOP]

Rob,
Are there any renowned "Victorian Era" museums that you might know of in sunny Ole' England?
Mike

Not England but you just might find one or two things of interest in this one in Wales

http://www.rrw.org.uk/index.shtml

Cheers

Martyn

 

[1879fanatic]

Not England but you just might find one or two things of interest in this one in Wales

http://www.rrw.org.uk/index.shtml

Cheers

Martyn

Martyn,
Yes! I would love to meet Martin Everett and see the RRW. I've bought many books and mouse pads from the museum over the past couple years...Is that it for Victorian era military museums, or are they incoporated into the larger museums?
Mike

 

[GICOP]

Martyn,
Yes! I would love to meet Martin Everett and see the RRW. I've bought many books and mouse pads from the museum over the past couple years...Is that it for Victorian era military museums, or are they incoporated into the larger museums?
Mike

Hi Mike
This is the museum to visit, I was fortunate to go there 3 times in the mid 1990's.

There are several Regimental museums that feature various Colonial War related displays. I plan on visiting The Royal Logistics Corps Museum at Deepcut as they currently have a Zulu War Exhibition, the museum is only a few miles from where I live. The RLC was formed in 1993 from various British Army units, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Corps of Transport, Royal Pioneer Corps and Army Catering Corps. One of the "Old Boys" of this unit, although it was known by a different name then, was James Langley Dalton.
Cheers
Martyn

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Sorry, Vick, I've never been to either (I would love to visit both) so I didn't feel qualified to render an opinion. By reputation, they certainly should be listed.

Must visit, all private collections, have amazing life like manequan battle scenes, the most amazing is the surgeons tent, so real!!! They also have a 20mm assualt on Burnsides Bridge!!! Also, the museum in Gettysburg, with the Picketts Charge painting rotunda is also amazing...

Vick

 

[chiefs70]

The National World War One Museum in Kansas City, MO is incredible. It was originally created as the Liberty Memorial Monument and was dedicated on November 1, 1921 and was attended by Lieutenant General Baron Jacques of Belgium; General Armando Diaz of Italy; Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France; General John J. Pershing of the United States; and Admiral David Beatty of Great Britain to a crowd of more than 200,000. (I pulled this bit of info from the website). The museum was renovated and reopened in 2006 and is phenomenal. It contains an extensive collection of uniforms, weapons, artillery, vehicles and several recreated trenches and battleground scenes not to mention the multi-media presentations. It is an incredible museum to visit. Here is the link:
http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/index.aspx

Eric