National Veterans Memorial and Museum facts for kids
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| Established | October 27, 2018 |
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| Location | 300 W. Broad Street Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Type | Veteran |
| Architect | Allied Works Architecture, OLIN |
| Public transit access |  Add→ 10, 12 CoGo |
| Nearest parking | Surface lot |
| Designated | June 21, 2018 |
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (often called NVMM) is a special place in the United States. It's the country's national museum dedicated to all the brave veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. You can find this museum in Columbus, Ohio. It sits right along the Scioto River, between the areas of Franklinton and Downtown Columbus.
What makes the NVMM unique is its main focus. Instead of just talking about wars, it shares the personal stories of American veterans. It helps visitors understand their experiences. The museum officially opened on October 27, 2018. It was built on the site of an older memorial, the Franklin County Veterans Memorial, which honored local veterans since 1955.
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Discovering the Museum's History
The land where the NVMM stands today has a long history of honoring veterans. It was once home to the Franklin County Veterans Memorial, which first opened its doors in 1955. This older building was taken down in early 2015 to make way for the new, modern museum.
The idea for a national veterans museum in Columbus was supported by many people. One important supporter was former Senator John Glenn, who was a World War II veteran himself. His vision helped bring this important project to life.
In June 2018, the United States Congress officially named it the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. This made it the 20th museum in the country to receive the special "national museum" status from Congress. The museum was officially dedicated on October 27, 2018. A famous former general, Colin Powell, gave a speech at the opening ceremony.
The Museum's Amazing Design
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum building is quite impressive! It covers about 53,000 square feet. The design was created by a company called Allied Works Architecture. The beautiful outdoor areas were designed by OLIN. Inside, the exhibits were planned by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.
The building has a unique round shape, about 300 feet across. Its inside has a simple, clean look. If you look closely at the full-length windows on the middle floor, you'll see vertical stripes. These stripes are designed to look like the colorful military ribbons that veterans earn.
One cool feature is that visitors can walk on the museum's grassy roof. From up there, you get amazing views of the Columbus city skyline. It's also a peaceful spot to think and reflect. The entire building and its surrounding park cost about $75 million to build.
Exploring Exhibits and Collections
The museum's main goal is to "honor, inspire, connect, and educate." It does this by focusing on the personal stories of veterans. It's not just about big battles; it's about the people who served.
The museum has two main exhibits that are always there, plus a space for temporary exhibits. These exhibits cover a large area of 30,000 square feet. You can see personal items that belonged to service members, like their old footlockers, military ribbons, and letters they sent home to their families.
The exhibits share stories from veterans who served in conflicts from the American Revolutionary War all the way up to recent times. The museum wants to help everyone, especially those who haven't served, understand the many different backgrounds of veterans. It also shows the many different jobs and roles they had in the military.
The Peaceful Memorial Grove
Right outside the museum, there's a quiet park called Memorial Grove. This peaceful area is about 2.5 acres in size. It opened at the same time as the museum in October 2018.
As you walk through the grove, you'll find a path that circles a long wall. This wall is 325 feet long and made of stacked rocks, with gentle waterfalls flowing over it. The wall has the Latin phrase "E pluribus unum" written on it, which means "Out of many, one."
In the center of the grove, there's a shaded area with American elm trees. This spot is designed to be a quiet place where people can reflect and think. The whole idea behind the museum's design, including the grove, is to help people remember and honor those who served.
See also
