National Museum of Military Vehicles

[BSeyler]

We are heading to Idaho for a wedding and decided to go through my old stomping grounds in Wyoming. There is a new museum at Dubois (pronounced DEW boys) that is equal or more to a Smithsonian museum. It is a must see for anyone who finds themselves in the area - it’s on the way to Yellowstone. I can’t say enough about this museum. Admission for adults is only $15 and veterans and active duty are free. It cost over 100 million dollars to put it together. The only larger collection of military vehicles is the US military. Bucket list, bucket list, bucket list! Here is a link:
https://www.nmmv.org/

 

[Wiredawg]

Aberdeen Proving Ground Northeast of DC has an amazing display, including atomic cannon and German rail mounted cannon. Huge small arms museum too. We might just have to find our way back Wyoming to that one... We love RVing and seeing sights!

 

[GCroyle]

We love RVing and seeing sights!

I see a thread forming up maybe focusing on out of the way off the beaten path museums.

I'll add two, first up Museum of America, Polson, MT. I visited it years ago with my Uncle Fred as he retied in Polson. Hard to put it in a few words as to what is in it. They do favor military stuff for sure.

https://miracleofamericamuseum.org/

And that's Fred's LSO uniform and a pic of him doing carrier landing training, he has the paddles. He donated it to the museum.

And almost in my back yard a prosperous peach farmer setup his personal museum. Lots smaller but focuses on the simple life and a lot of ag stuff, pretty good collection of tractors. And strawberry's and peaches in season. The store is right on the way S out of Charlotte and headed to Myrtle Beach. It draws travelers looking for a break and ice cream and much more. RV parking, no problem.

https://www.macspride.com/antique-museum

Gary

Gary

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Aberdeen Proving Ground Northeast of DC has an amazing display, including atomic cannon and German rail mounted cannon. Huge small arms museum too. We might just have to find our way back Wyoming to that one... We love RVing and seeing sights!

Atomic cannon??? I thought there was only one Atomic Annie that still resides in FT. Sill... I had the privilege to see her a couple of times when I was there.

 

[Wiredawg]

Atomic cannon??? I thought there was only one Atomic Annie that still resides in FT. Sill... I had the privilege to see her a couple of times when I was there.

I believe you are correct.

Surviving units[edit]
Of the twenty M65s produced, at least seven survive on display. Most no longer have their prime movers.

• U.S. Army Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma (This is the original Atomic Annie that fired the live nuclear shot. It was restored in 2010[9] and is now displayed with prime movers replacing those that were lost in an accident when the cannon was retrieved from Germany by the museum in 1964.[10])
• United States Army Ordnance Training and Heritage Center, Petersburg, Virginia (still has the two large prime movers attached)
• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Albuquerque, New Mexico (has two prime movers)
• Freedom Park, Junction City, Kansas, overlooking Fort Riley
• Rock Island Arsenal, Memorial Field, Rock Island, Illinois
• Watervliet Arsenal Museum, Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, New York, where they were all manufactured
• Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona

The Virginia War Museum in Newport News, Virginia has been erroneously identified as possessing a 240 mm prototype of the M65. The weapon at the Museum is actually a conventional 240 mm T1 Gun, one of two produced as part of a separate design program which was abandoned in favor of the T131 280 mm Atomic Cannon program. Both the T1 and T131/M65 share T72 carriages.[5][11]



"The weapon at the Museum is actually a conventional 240 mm T1 Gun, one of two produced as part of a separate design program which was abandoned in favor of the T131 280 mm Atomic Cannon program. Both the T1 and T131/M65 share T72 carriages. An M65 atomic cannon at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Length: 85 feet (26 m)
Mass: 172,865 lb, 78,410 kg; 86.433 short tons
Place of origin: United States of America
Type: Heavy towed artillery"