National Veterans Art Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1980; at 1801 S. Indiana Avenue since 1995, moved 2012 |
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| Location | 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, US |
| Public transit access | Irving Park (CTA), #80, #72, #56 |
The National Veterans Art Museum is a special place in Chicago, USA. It shows amazing art made by veterans. Veterans are people who have served in the military. This museum focuses on art from the Vietnam War and other conflicts.
It used to be called the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum. The museum is located at 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago's six corners area. It helps people understand war through art.
When it was a traveling show, the mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, saw it. He was so impressed that he wanted the city to give it a permanent home. The museum's entrance once had 58,226 dog tags hanging from the ceiling. Each dog tag stood for a US soldier who died in Vietnam. People often say the exhibits are very powerful and moving.
How the Museum Started
The National Veterans Art Museum began thanks to a group called the Vietnam Veterans Art Group. They formed in 1981. Their first art show was called Vietnam: Reflexes and Reflections. It opened in October 1981 and quickly became popular.
More and more people learned about the group and their art. Veterans from all over the United States started sending their artwork to be shown. In 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Art Group opened this museum. It was the only museum of its kind at 1801 S. Indiana Ave in Chicago's South Loop.
What the Museum Does
The museum's main goal is to help everyone understand what war is like. It does this by collecting, keeping, and showing art made by veterans. These veterans have served in all kinds of US military conflicts.
The museum shares both military history and artistic expression. It helps people who haven't been in the military connect with veterans. It also helps veterans connect with each other. The museum has almost 2,500 pieces of art. More than 250 artists have created these works.
Visitors of all ages can learn about war from the viewpoint of those who were directly involved. The museum also gives veterans a way to express their experiences. They can use art to work through their feelings about combat and military service.
