Summer 2026
America's founding, uncommon courage, and artifacts that illuminate the nation's military history.
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11 stories
A Word from the Founder
Honoring Our VeteransWhat is U.S. military service worth? How often do most Americans think about this question?Hundreds of Americans from all over Wyoming came together March 28 to celebrate National Vietnam Veterans Day and Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day at the Museum. It was a day of education, recognition, and…
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Curatorial Department
Happy 250th!This summer we will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The semiquincentennial offers an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and renew our appreciation for this nation and its history.In the 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed, the United States has undergone profound…
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Education Department
Spring has been an exciting and meaningful season at the National Museum of Military Vehicles. Our galleries have been filled with students from across Wyoming and beyond, and we’re thrilled to see so many young people engaging with history in hands on, memorable ways. With even more field trips scheduled throughout May and…
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Tank Restoration Facility
Happy 250th Birthday, America!The Tank Restoration Facility (TRF) crew would like to say HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!In this update I’ll be talking a little about our process to maintain our parade vehicle fleet so the Founder and Chairman of the National Museum of Military Vehicles can pick through over fifty wheeled and…
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The Badge of Military Merit: America’s First Military Decoration
In the final years of the American Revolution, General George Washington introduced a form of recognition that acknowledged the merit of a common soldier at a time when awards were typically reserved for officers and the elite. On August 7, 1782, from his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, Washington established the Badge of…
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The First American Submarine: Turtle
On the evening of September 6, 1776, during the British occupation of New York Harbor, Sergeant Ezra Lee clambered down the narrow conning tower hatch at 10:30 p.m. and set out in the Continental Army submarine, Turtle . Yes, you read that right… A submarine in the Revolutionary War. Towed downstream by whale boats, Turtle was…
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Needle in a Haystack: The Luck of the Irish
Francis Callaghan, a native of Chicago’s South Side, was born on September 25, 1924. Shortly after his high school graduation in 1943, Callaghan received a draft notice for the U.S. Army. After receiving his basic Army training at Camp Beale, California, Francis was assigned to the 530th Engineer Light Pontoon Company (a…
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Artifact Highlight: Type 53 Carbine Donated by 1st Lieutenant Lee Alley
The Type 53 carbine was a Chinese-manufactured variant of the Russian Mosin-Nagant M1944 rifle. The design was considered rudimentary by the time U.S. forces would first face the weapon in combat. The rifle’s bolt action, crude open sights, and 5-round magazine capacity were all relics of the weapon’s 1890s-era origin. But that…
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Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, familiar moments of the Revolutionary War come to mind. Many Americans recall the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Paul Revere’s ride, or George Washington crossing the Delaware. While these events are integral to the nation’s story, Valcour: The 1776 Campaign…
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Join the Conversation
In the Museum’s Patton Gallery, you have the opportunity to “Share Your Thoughts.” With prompt cards, guests often reflect on their visit to the Museum, Veterans’ service and sacrifice, and the price of American freedom. Here’s what guests are saying... Honor Who would you honor today, and why? “First LT Ira “Ike” Shober…
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