While in Hopewell to help a friend move a tv, went to Ft. Lee which was just up the road, and is home to The US Army Quartermaster Museum, and the US Army Women's Museum. Saw a number of interesting things there. Photo at left was at the Woman's Museum, and is a piece of The Pentagon which was damaged in the attacks on 9/11. Both museums had a great number of interesting items are are located on the base. Had to pass through a checkpoint, and provide some information before being allowed on base. It was my first visit to this military base which is located in Hopewell, Va. Very nice looking post, as were the ones I served at in the USN some years ago.
This gun carriage dates to the Civil War era, and was used in the funerals after the war of Jefferson Davis, and of General George Pickett, both of whom are buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va (which I have been to a few times, a very nice place with beautiful views of the James River. There was a lot of Civil War era items including the saddle that US Grant used during the Civil War (donated by him) and a wagon believed to have been used to haul his personal effects around the battlefields he lead troops in during the war. There were also a number of other items from the war on display there.
I found this item very interesting; it was one of the Jeep's used by General George S. Patton during WWII. Certainly one of the most colorful and interesting military leaders not just of WWII, but of any period in US history. He was most famous for his leadership of the US Third Army during that war.
The museum has a number of items from virtually all the periods of warfare in US history. To be honest there was a lot more there than I expected, and the museum was very nice to check out. I think a visit to this museum is very worthwhile, and is worth the time to visit it. Though a donation is suggested, there is no charge to enter it.
Finally, again from the Woman's Museum at Ft. Lee, is this display to the WASP's of WWII. That was the Womans AirForce Service Pilots (though the Air Force was the Army...it did not become a separate branch until after WWII). Some 1,074 pilots were trained for duties such as ferrying aircraft (they flew all US military aircraft) and freeing up male pilots for combat. All in all, the WASP's flew some 60 million miles.
Enjoyed my visit to this museum as well, and have a few more photos from the visit on my photo page, which you can find via a link to this page. Like the Quartermaster Museum there is no admission charge, the museum is right next to the Quartermaster Museum at Ft. Lee.
I wish I had known you were going to make a visit to Ft Lee. There are some old planes there that have come here from across the country in the last two years, one recently was a C130. If you come again, the planes can be found on 3rd Street behind the trees. Also there is a big Globemaster that was floated thru the Panama Canal up the East Coast and on our river the Appomatox to get here. it is HUGE ! Love reading your posts as always. I have been to these museums but missed a few of the items you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThats cool. I will be back there, going to be here for a while yet. Love aircraft so will have to check those out! Thanks for the tip, and be looking for those in a future post!
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