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Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles facts for kids

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Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles (HMMV)
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Established 1986
Location 606 Heartland Road, Lexington, Nebraska, United States
Type Military museum

The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles (HMMV) is a cool place in Lexington, Nebraska. It's run by volunteers who love history. Their main goal is to fix up, save, and show off old military vehicles and equipment. They do this to remember and honor the brave people who served in the military. You can find the museum right off Interstate 80 at exit 237. It's free to get in, but you can donate if you want to help. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, and from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sundays.

Museum History: How It Started

The Heartland Museum began in 1986. Four men from Lexington, Nebraska, wanted to save old military vehicles. They were very determined to make this happen.

Today, the museum has many vehicles that have been fully restored. Each one helps honor the people who served in the military.

Building the Museum Site

In 1991, the museum got a permanent home. It's located right by exit 237 on Interstate 80. This made it easy for visitors to find.

Later, in 1998, a large building was constructed. This Visitor Center is about 16,000 square feet. Many of the museum's vehicles are kept inside this building.

Explore the Museum's Collection

The museum has about 100 different vehicles. This includes cool helicopters, big tanks, and even a jeep from every part of the military. You can also see displays of weapons, uniforms, engines, and other military gear.

You'll find everyday items soldiers used, like MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat). There are also unique vehicles, such as those used by the German army in World War II.

Special Vehicles and Exhibits

The people who work at the museum are very helpful. They can tell you lots of interesting facts about each vehicle. One special item is the very first prototype of the HMMWV, also known as the Humvee. It's serial number 1!

Kids can even go inside some of the vehicles. You can explore a "Mike model Huey" helicopter. You can also climb into two different tanks. It's a great way to see what these machines are like up close.

Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles
View from the south-west showing five of the vehicles outside
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