Texas Military Forces Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Texas Military Forces Museum
Sign outside the Texas Military Forces Museum
Established	1986; opened November 14, 1992
Location	Building Six Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas 30°18′42.173″N 97°45′38.338″W
Type	Military Museum

The Texas Military Forces Museum is a cool history museum located in Austin, Texas. It's hosted by the Texas Military Department at Camp Mabry. The museum tells the amazing story of the Texas Military Forces from way back in 1823 all the way to today.

You can visit the museum Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The best part is, admission is totally free! Just remember to bring a government ID like a driver's license or passport to get onto Camp Mabry.

The museum's main goal is to share the history of Texas's military. It honors veterans and helps people learn about the brave men and women who served. It also hopes to inspire young people to serve their community.

The museum is huge, about 45,000 square feet! It has indoor and outdoor areas with 24 main exhibits. You'll find over 10,000 artifacts, 36 vehicles, and many detailed displays. There are also 16 large environments and over 50 mannequins dressed in military uniforms. The museum also has a library with over 10,000 books and 20,000 photos for research.

How the Museum Started
Learning and Collections
- Important Collections
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
How the Museum is Supported
Fun Events and Programs
Volunteering Opportunities
Images for kids
See also

How the Museum Started

The idea for the Texas Military Forces Museum began in 1986. Major General James T. Dennis and Brigadier General John C. L. Scribner wanted to create a place to keep Texas military history. In 1987, the United States Army Center of Military History approved its location. It was set up at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. This camp is the main headquarters for the Texas Military Department.

In 1990, Building 6 was chosen for the museum. This building was originally a dining hall built in 1918. The museum officially opened its doors to the public on November 14, 1992.

The museum was named after Brigadier General John C. L. Scribner in 2006.
Between 2008 and 2012, the museum had a big renovation. This added new exhibits and made the building even better.
More updates happened in 2019. These included a new main entrance and improved access to the Hall of Honor.

Learning and Collections

The museum has a special library and archive. It holds over 10,000 books and 20,000 photos. These are all available for people who want to do research.

Important Collections

Records from World War I service members.
A list of soldiers from the 36th Infantry Division in World War II.

What You Can See: Museum Exhibits

The museum has six main areas for visitors to explore. These include four indoor galleries, one outdoor gallery, and a conference center. In total, you can see 10,000 artifacts, 36 vehicles, and many other displays.

Outdoor Displays: Tanks and Artillery

This outdoor area is called Armor Row and Artillery Park. It features more than 36 tanks and artillery pieces. You can also spot other aircraft and helicopters around the Camp Mabry parade field.

Gallery 1: Early Texas History (1823-1859)

This gallery covers the early days of Texas military history.

It shows how the Texas Militia began.
You can learn about the Texas Revolution.
It tells the story of the Republic of Texas.
Discover the Mexican War.
See how the Texas Rangers fought in the Texas—Indian Wars.

Gallery 2: Civil War and Beyond (1860-1918)

This section explores a later period of Texas military history.

Learn about the American Civil War.
See how the Texas Military Forces were restarted.
Discover the Texas Rangers in the Texas—Indian Wars.
Explore the start of the Texas Army National Guard.
Learn about the Spanish-American War.
Understand the Mexican Border War.
See exhibits from World War I.

Gallery 3: Modern Military History (1919-Today)

This gallery brings you up to more recent times.

It covers the years between the World Wars.
Learn about World War II.
Discover the Cold War and the creation of the Texas Air National Guard.
See the history of the 49th Armored Division.
Learn about Texas missions and United States missions.
Explore the War on Terror.

The Great Hall: Big Artifacts

The Great Hall is home to some of the museum's largest and most famous items.

The Twin Sisters cannons are here.
You can learn about the Lost Battalion from World War II.
See captured enemy vehicles like a Hetzer and a Volkswagen Kübelwagen.
Check out tanks like the M4A3 Sherman and the M3A1 Stuart.
Aircraft include an F-16 cockpit trainer and OH-58 helicopters.
You can also see various weapons and equipment, including a Jeep.

Hall of Honor: Texas Heroes

The museum also features the Texas Military Department's Hall of Honor. This exhibit has a digital screen where you can learn about the biographies of honored individuals. It also has a conference center that can be used for events.

How the Museum is Supported

The Texas Military Forces Museum gets its funding from different places. The building itself is paid for by the federal government. The daily operations, like salaries and supplies, come from the state. A non-profit group called the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation also raises money through donations. This foundation helps the museum with special requests. The museum also accepts individual donations and has a gift shop.

Fun Events and Programs

The museum often hosts exciting events. These include reenactments, guest speakers, dances, and other special activities. You can find a calendar of events on the museum's website.

They also have several annual events:

Hands on History — A special chance to see items usually kept in the vault.
Battleground 1863 — A Civil War reenactment in March. It shows weapons and tactics from both sides.
Muster Day — A World War II reenactment held with the Texas Military Department Open House.
Close Assault — Held on Memorial Day and Veterans Day weekends. It focuses on the 36th Infantry Division in World War II or the 25th Infantry Division in the Vietnam War.
Over There — This event focuses on the history of the 36th Infantry Division during World War I.

Volunteering Opportunities

If you're interested, you can volunteer at the museum. There's also a special internship program for students. This program is great for those who want to gain experience in the museum field.