Museum of the American GI, Texas, United States

5raj0302 5:00 PM Jan 5, 2021

Extremely nice small museum with beautifully-restored vehicles.
If my review is useful, please give me a “helpful” vote. 1. Bottom Line Up Front/frame of reference for my remarks. I am a retired Marine Corps Infantry Officer and have high expectations of military museums (I have visited over 30 in the United States). This museum is very well-curated and has beautifully-restored vehicles (all vehicles are operable); you can tell that the staff is very passionate about their work. It is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area and is worth a day trip even if you are not in the area. 2. Details of my visit 2.a. Date & Time. Friday 18 December 2020 (morning). 2.b. Other patrons. During my visit, there were no other visitors. 2.c. Length of visit. I was at the museum for 45 minutes; I have visited the museum previously so I did not spend as much time as I did on my initial visit. I estimate it would take 1 1/2 hours for a person visiting for the first time. 3. Location. Check the museum’s website for current information. 4. Access 4.a. Passenger vehicles. The parking lot can be accessed by any type of passenger vehicle. 4.b. RV and tractor-trailers. I consider the parking lot to be easily accessible by over-size vehicles unless the parking lot is at maximum capacity. I recommend looking at the museum on Bing or Google Maps to confirm accessibility 5. Parking. Un-paved / no charge / approximately 75 spaces. 6. Admission. Check the museum’s website for current information. 7. Hours of operation. Check the museum’s website for current information. Be advised, the museum is not open 7 days/week. 8. Permissions/prohibitions 8.a. Weapons. I did not see any signs prohibiting concealed/open-carry weapons but I recommend calling the museum to confirm. 8.b. Photography. Permitted. 8.c. Pets and service animals. There was no sign indicating otherwise but I would assume that pets are not permitted and service animals are permitted. 9. Type/nature of visit. Visitors may conduct un-guided tours; I do not know if guided tours are available. 10. Layout of museum. 10.a. First Floor. Contains the majority of the exhibits (primarily crew-served weapons, vehicles and tanks). 10.b. Second floor. The second floor is a walkway (open to the first floor) lined with display cases (only minimally stocked at this time) that contain uniforms and memorabilia. 11. Exhibits. Not all-inclusive. 11.a. Recruiting and home-front propaganda posters. Items such as this are often overlooked but the World War II posters indicate the importance of civilians on the home-front to sacrifice in order to support the war effort. 11.b. World War I cavalry exhibit. Horse-mounted soldier with period-correct uniform, weapons and equipment. This is a very nice, detailed exhibit. 11.c. Nash Quad transport truck. This is the oldest piece in the museum – built in 1916. It also has two companion pieces: French 75mm gun and caisson. World War I era (1916-1928). 11.d. Renault FT-17 tank. This is a very small tank that mounts a 75mm main gun. World War I era (1917-1918). 11.e. Willys ¼ ton MB Jeep. World War II era (1941-1945). 11.f. Ford GPA Seep (amphibious Jeep). This vehicle looks like a miniature DUKW. World War II era (1942-1943). 11.g. Dodge Command Car. World War II era (1942-1944). 11.f. M-3 Gun, Motor Carriage. Half-track with a 75mm anti-tank gun. World War II era (1941-1943). 11.g. M-8 Motor Carriage. M-5 Stuart tank chassis with a 75mm Howitzer. World War II era (1942-1944). 11.h. M-18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer. Mounts a 75mm gun. World War II era (1943-1944). 11.i. M-24 Chaffee light Tank. Mounts a 37mm main gun. World War II era (1944-1945). 11.j. M4-A1 Sherman medium tank. 75mm main gun. World War II era (1942-1943). 11.k. M4-A3 Sherman medium tank. 75mm main gun. World War II era (1942-1943). 11.l. M-274 Truck, Platform, Utility (AKA Mechanical Mule). This is a very unique, small vehicle (more or less a child’s wagon on steroids). This is only the third one I have ever seen in a museum. It is a ½ ton, 4-wheel drive vehicle that was used to: transport light loads, string field communication wire and mount crew-served weapons. It was introduced in the 1950s and used throughout the Vietnam War and into the 1980s. 11.m. M50-A1 Ontos anti-tank vehicle. This is one of my favorite tactical vehicles and is the only one I have ever seen in a museum. It is a small, fully-tracked vehicle, powered by a V-8 engine and mounts six 106mm recoilless rifles. Like all other museum pieces here, it has been beautifully-restored. It was used throughout the 1960s. 11.n. Mark II Patrol Boat, Riverine. With .30 and .50 cal machineguns. Vietnam War era. 11.o. AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter. Vietnam War era. 12. Handicap Access. I consider the museum to be handicap-accessible. There is an elevator to access the second floor. 13. Child friendliness. I consider the museum to be child-friendly 14. Amenities. 14.a. Restrooms. Restrooms are available and very clean. 14.b. Water fountains. Water fountains are available. 14.c. Food & beverages. Food and beverages are not available. 14.d. Gift shop. The gift shop

5txstubby 5:00 PM Apr 12, 2015

Great Time
A nice new museum featuring artifacts from WWII and the Vietnam conflicts. There are some uniforms and posters from WWI and WWII in the foyer, the main part of the museum features beautifully restored Military vehicles. The docent was very knowledgeable and from my wife's perspective (who is not into military history) was the best part of the museum.