National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey facts for kids
The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey is a cool place that helps us remember and understand New Jersey's military history. It has two main locations: one in Sea Girt and another in Lawrenceville, both in New Jersey.
This museum is a non-profit organization, which means it's not trying to make money. Instead, its main goal is to collect, keep safe, and show off items that are important to the history of the New Jersey Army National Guard, the New Jersey Air National Guard, and the New Jersey Naval Militia. Think of it as a special treasure chest for New Jersey's military past!
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Sea Girt Museum: Home of the Citizen Soldier
The main museum is located at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt. This museum tells the story of New Jersey's citizen soldiers, from the early days of the Militia (like a local defense group) to the modern-day National Guard. You can see real and copied items that show what life was like for these soldiers.
The museum first opened in 1980. Since then, it has collected over 4,000 items! These include interesting things like a special saddle designed by General George B. McClellan (who later became Governor of New Jersey). There are also many photos from World War II and even large vehicles and aircraft on display.
The Amazing Intelligent Whale Submarine
One of the most exciting things to see at the Sea Girt museum is the Intelligent Whale. This was an experimental submarine from the 1860s that was powered by hand! It was designed in 1863, but it wasn't ready in time for the American Civil War.
The submarine was built in Newark. It was supposed to cost $15,000, but it ended up costing four times that much! The Intelligent Whale could hold four crew members. They would turn a hand-crank to make the propeller spin, allowing the submarine to move underwater at about four knots (which is like 4.6 miles per hour). It could stay underwater for up to ten hours using compressed air. This air also helped it surface by pushing water out of its tanks.
Tests in the Passaic River in the late 1860s went well. However, the Navy decided not to buy it after the project faced unexpected challenges. The submarine was moved to the Sea Girt museum in April 1999 from the Washington Naval Yard, where it had been since 1968.
Sharing Veterans' Stories
The Sea Girt museum is also home to the Center for U.S. War Veterans’ Oral History Project. This project is super important because it records interviews with veterans about their experiences in the military. These interviews are available on video and DVD for people who want to learn more. As of 2019, the center had recorded over 600 interviews with veterans from World War II and other conflicts, including Operation Iraqi Freedom. It's a great way to hear history directly from the people who lived it!
Lawrenceville Field Artillery Annex: Tanks and More!
The Lawrenceville museum is located on the Lawrenceville DMAVA campus. It's in a new building that was specially built for it, opening in October 2021. Before that, it was in the old Lawrenceville Armory.
This museum also focuses on the history of New Jersey's militia and National Guard. It has extra displays that explain New Jersey's military history in a bigger picture. Outside the museum building, you can see fifteen tanks, armored vehicles, and cannons on display. It's like an outdoor exhibit of powerful military machines!
