Lewis Army Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Red Shield Inn
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Fort Lewis Military Museum (2009)
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Main St., Fort Lewis, Washington |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1919 |
| Architect | Pratt & Watson Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake, Western Stick |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002552 |
| Added to NRHP | February 14, 1979 |
The Lewis Army Museum is a special place where you can learn about the U.S. Army's history. It is located at Joint Base Lewis–McChord in Washington state. The museum is inside a very old building called the Red Shield Inn. This building is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can even see it easily from Interstate 5! It is the only official U.S. Army museum on the West Coast.
Museum History
The museum first opened its doors in 1971. Back then, it was in a two-story barracks building. In July 1973, the museum moved to its current home, the historic Fort Lewis Inn. The museum closed for renovations on July 2, 2016. It then reopened on August 31, 2017, with new and exciting exhibits.
What You Can See: Exhibits
Inside the museum, there are about 10,000 square feet of displays. You can see many different collections of uniforms and equipment. Some exhibits tell the stories of "Soldiers of the Northwest" and the I Corps. You can also learn about the 9th Infantry Division and the Medical Corps.
Outside, there is a large Vehicle Park covering 2.5 acres. Here, you can explore a collection of tanks, jeeps, and other military vehicles. There are also big weapons like a Nike-Hercules Missile and an Honest John rocket.
The Historic Red Shield Inn
The Red Shield Inn is a very old building. It is one of only two buildings left at Fort Lewis from the World War I time. Back then, Fort Lewis was called "Camp Lewis." The Inn is the only building remaining from a fun area once known as Greene Park.
The building was constructed in 1918. It was built by Pratt & Watson Construction Co. for the Salvation Army. It cost $107,000 to build. They named it the Red Shield Inn because of the Salvation Army's symbol, which is a red shield. The building was huge, with about 150 rooms.
The Salvation Army sold the Inn to the U.S. Army on July 21, 1921, for just one dollar. For a short time, it was called the Camp Lewis Apartments. Then it became the Camp Lewis Inn. From 1927, it was known as the Fort Lewis Inn. In August 1972, the building was saved to become the new home for the fort's museum. It officially became the Fort Lewis Military Museum on July 18, 1973. The Red Shield Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 1979.
Images for kids
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Vietnamese sandals made from recycled tire treads
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Fort Lewis Military Museum
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Outdoor display
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Winter uniform of a Korean War U.S. Infantryman
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Huey Helicopter in the courtyard
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U.S. M103 Heavy Tank
