Museums in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia

[S1991]

So in late September I will be visiting the US for about 2 weeks. I will land at Philadelphia Airport and from there my journey begins.

Not only I will be visiting some veterans and their families, I also wanted to do some sightseeing.

I will be visiting the following places in order of date of arrival:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Oaklyn, New Jersey
• Middletown, Delaware
• Washington, D.C.
• Arlington, Virginia (mainly to visit the Arlington National Cemetery)
• Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Amelia Court House, Virginia
• Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Now my question is, are there any noteable and interesting museums in those areas? My interests mainly lay with museums regarding World War I and World War II.

But I would also like to see some Civil War museums or other museums.

Looking forward to hear some options!

Thanks!

[David D]

The 116th regimental museum is in Virginia. I will give you the link to there site later

 

-Dave

[mattsmilitary]

Gettysburg has like everything; battlefields, museums, tours, shows, ect. Its an amazing place and a must see for a military enthusiast! I have been there no lie, a dozen times in the last 10-15 years.

[S1991]

Thanks for the tips! Guess I have to adjust my schedule on how the trip will be going!

Or just stay a few more days.. What a dilemma haha!

[BagmanL6]

Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Va. South of DC

[gwb123]

I'd of sworn we had a lengthy thread on the DC area already on the Forum, but I cannot find it at the moment.

 

There are the memorials for Vietnam, WWII and Korea.

 

There is also the National Air and Space Museum, both at the mall and Reagan Airport.

 

Sometimes the National History Museum has military themed exhibits, as well as a smaller permanent exhibit.

 

When you are in Philadelphia and New Jersey, you will not be too far away from the USS New Jersey.

 

When you are in central Pennsylvania, don't forget there is a large Civil War museum in Harrisburg, the state capital.

 

There are also exhibits at Carlisle Army Barracks (War College) including:

 

"Army Heritage Trail: The mile-long outdoor Army Heritage Trail allows visitors to experience history in a new way, through interactive and full-scale military exhibits. Exhibits include a Cobra helicopter, Civil War encampment cabins, WWI trench system and more highlighting the different eras of American military history. The trail is open dawn to dusk everyday; exhibits on the trail are open during normal business hours, weather permitting."

 

If you drive further north, near State College, PA, there is the 28th Division Museum at Boalsburg.

[gwb123]

Closer back to Philadelphia, you have a host of Revolutionary War sites both in the city and at Valley Forge.

 

You also have the SpanAm cruiser USS Olympia parked next to the submarine Becuna in Philadelphia.

 

http://www.phillyseaport.org/becuna

 

There is a modest aviation museum near what used to be Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

 

http://www.wingsoffreedommuseum.org/

 

And there is also the Mid Atlantic Air Museum

in Reading where they are rebuilding a P-63 Black Widow to flying condition.

 

http://www.maam.org/

[gwb123]

Middletown, Delaware is only 36 minutes away from the Air Mobility Command Museum. While mostly focused on MATS and MAC, surprisingly, the collection includes a B-17 and A-26.

 

http://amcmuseum.org/

 

Further down along the coast is Fort Miles, a partially restored WWII era seacoast fort. There are other fortifications along the shore as well I believe.

 

http://www.destateparks.com/park/cape-henlopen/fort-miles/

[gwb123]

If you are going to Amelia Court House, Virginia, you are going to probably pass through Richmond.

 

I highly recommend the Museum of the Confederacy, next to the White House of the Confederacy in Richmond.

It is full of artifacts that were gathered from the highest ranks of the Confederate officer corps. They also have a

new location at Appomattox.

 

http://www.moc.org/exhibitions?mode=general

 

There is also a relatively new museum at the former Tredegar Iron Works, which was a cannon foundry during the war.

 

http://www.tredegar.org/

 

Petersburg is not too far away, and it has museums about the siege and battles as well.

 

If you really prefer modern history over all of this Blue/Grey stuff, there is a world class tank museum about 2 hours

south of Amelia Court House in Danville. This is open Fridays and Saturdays only.

 

http://www.aaftankmuseum.com/index.html

 

Two hours in a southeast direction from Amelia Curt House is Norfolk Naval Base with a host of museums in the local area.

[gwb123]

Getting back to DC, the is the National Museum of the US Navy, located at the Washington Navy Yard.

 

Unfortunately, you have to either have a military ID, or be escorted by someone who does.

 

http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/NationalMuseum/org8-1.htm

 

While not military, you have the Crime Museum, with a strong focus on the FBI.

 

http://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/fbi

 

And the International Spy Museum

 

http://www.spymuseum.org/?gclid=CjwKEAiAjsunBRCy3LSlz_PJqCgSJACJY7yKUDL65VXmlM0Hl4LlnZ3CmaP7hY26yMj-DwdBlOLNUBoCt-3w_wcB

 

 

Last, and certainly not least is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This is a very sombre

place to visit from what I am told, and photography is not allowed.

 

http://www.ushmm.org/

[gwb123]

One thing my wife emphasized after visiting government museums in DC and Virginia last summer... be sure to check the hours before going. With the current Federal budget cuts, she said there was no consistency between the museums... some open Monday, some closed on Monday, some open till 5 pm., some open on certain days till 8pm etc.

[aef1917]

Middletown isn't far from Ft. Delaware, which was a POW camp in the Civil War.

 

http://www.destateparks.com/park/fort-delaware/

[Hellfish41]

Its been forever since i've been to Gettysburg, but the Battlefield Military Museum is really good. They have exhibits of not only Civil War items, but WWI on through. I highly recommend it.