Museum Guide News

The Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson, Missouri is a national tribute to the brave men and women who defended our liberties during the 20th Century.  A visit to the museum is a powerful, emotional experience. As you wander the great halls of the museum you’ll be captivated by the stories of these men and women who gave us so much. The museum is filled with the most incredible collection of wartime exhibits covering the heights and depths of human experience. For those who lived through these wars the memories brought back are vivid and overwhelming. For those that viewed the 20th Century wars through the prism of history, the museum is awe-inspiring. You will be fascinated and thoroughly humbled by this memorial to our veterans. The vast array of exhibits causes reflection and creates an intense curiosity about the personal experiences of the men and women who lived in these uniforms, fired these weapons, lived as a POW, wrote these letters home, wore these medals, played this battlefield organ, flew the planes, rode the motorcycles, and served our country so well. The Veterans Memorial Museum is composed of ten great halls covering the wars and conflicts fought during the 20th Century. Circulation and viewing start in the World War I Hall, progressing through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and more. Each hall features dramatic and thought-provoking exhibits. Sculpture, murals, historical artifacts, objects d’ art, and thousands of authentic memorabilia honor all branches of the service, major battlefronts, campaigns, industrial defense, and more. The names of the men and women killed in action in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, and recent conflicts of the 20th Century are displayed on the walls of the halls. A Special Note: In Branson every year in November is Veterans Homecoming Week, with special activities celebrating Veterans ending with a parade! This year will be our 93rd year doing this, so if you can please join us and more inforamtion visit the Veterans Memorial Museum! http://veteransmemorialbranson.com/  

Talkin' bout A Revolution: A Haudenosaunee Response to the 250th - By, Vic DiSanto, Museum Associate, Iroquois Museum General George Washington to Major General John Sullivan The expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the six nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents.  The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more…you will not by any means listen to ⟨any⟩ overture of peace before the total ruin of their settlements is affected. George Washington’s direct order to John Sullivan in May 1779 is paraphrased on the while stripes of a Betsy Ross Flag by Oneida artist Karen Ann Hoffman, sharply illustrating the nightmarish results of the American Revolution on the Haudenosaunee. At the beginning of the American Revolution, the Haudenosaunee assured the upstart patriots that they would adopt a neutral stance. The British successfully wooed and won Seneca and Mohawk warriors over to their side while the Oneida and Tuscarora allied themselves with the Americans. Onondaga remained neutral until attacked. The Battle of Oriskany on August 6, 1777, marked the beginning of a civil war within the confederation. While most events will celebrate the quincentennial of American Independence with patriotic intensity, the Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave, NY has chosen to follow a different path. It has asked Haudenosaunee artists to contribute works representing the war’s impact on New York’s earliest inhabitants. This approach has resulted in a provocative exhibit titled “Talkin' bout A Revolution: A Haudenosaunee Response to the 250th”. The Museum has a full schedule for 2026 and we look forward to welcoming you! Please visit us at: 324 Caverns Rd., Howes Cave, NY.  https://www.iroquoismuseum.org/visit Our Hours are: April, Thursday – Saturday 10-4, Sunday 2-4. May 1st – October 31st Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 and November, Thursday – Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 12-3. We are closed Easter, Thanksgiving and December – March.           

The National Churchill Museum, was originally established in 1969 as the Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in the United States and renamed by act of Congress in 2009 as "America's National Churchill Museum". The museum and historic site is the nation's leading institution dedicated to remembering and honoring the life and enduring legacy of British Statesman Winston S. Churchill. The Museum, located on the campus of Westminster College, was created after a national campaign chaired by U.S. Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Eisenhower and Truman to memorialize the speech Churchill gave at the school on March 5, 1946. The Museum includes the majestic 17th-century church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury created by British architect Sir Christopher Wren. Bombed and badly damaged in the Second World War, the building was relocated from London to Fulton, Missouri, in the 1960s to honor Churchill's speech at Westminster College. The Museum also includes the largest continuous section of the Berlin Wall in North America, which is now a sculpture by Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Winston Churchill. At the museum we are honoring the 80th Anniversary of the March 5, 1946, Iron Curtain Speech!  "It is a solemn moment for the American Democracy. For with primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring accountability to the future" – Winston Churchill, "The Sinews of Peace" ('Iron Curtain' Speech). https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/sinews-of-peace-iron-curtain-speech.html The presence of Winston Churchill and President Harry Truman turned a college gymnasium in a small Midwestern town into a world stage as Churchill delivered his most famous post- World War II address — "The Sinews of Peace." That Churchill and Truman would travel to Fulton, Missouri, is a story of a college president with the boldness to ask for the seemingly impossible; of a Westminster College alumnus with access to the President of the United States; of a President of the United States with the willingness to endorse the invitation; and of a recently defeated British Prime Minister with the shrewdness to recognize an opportunity. It is a story of coincidence and a moment boldly grasped — a combination Churchill capitalized on throughout his life. We encourage you to visit our museum at any time of the year! The National Churchill Museum in Fulton, MO is the most comprehensive remembrance in honor of perhaps the greatest leader not only from WWII, but perhaps in the 20th Century! Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving Day - Christmas Dayand New Year's Day – 573-592-5369 https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/  

The Dakota County Historical Society (DCHS) in South St. Paul, MN will guide you as you explore the fascinating history of our communities. Tours, exhibits, camps, and our many interactive programs cover all manner of topics including the Civil War, the Dakota People, Minnesota as the original “Silicon Valley” of the world, traditional agriculture, food processing, and market gardening, Mississippi, Minnesota, and Vermillion River histories, quack medicine, politics, and much more. There is truly something for everyone at DCHS! We operate three sites for you to explore while you are here. The LeDuc Historic Estate, is as Civil War-era Gothic Revival home! https://dakotahistory.org/leduc-historic-estate Join us for fascinating and fun events that illuminate the lives of Civil War Brevet Brigadier General William LeDuc, Mary Bronson LeDuc, and their four children. Built in the mid-1860s, the LeDuc Estate in Hastings, MN is a beautiful example of the design work of Andrew Jackson Downing complete with residence, carriage house, and ice house. The Lawshe Memorial Museum is for you to explore Dakota County's history!   https://dakotahistory.org/lawshe-memorial-museum The museum houses various exhibits and our archive and research library. In June 2025, we opened a new children's exhibit - The Curiosity Collection. This hands-on exhibit is great for children of all ages to explore a variety of topics that range from our organization's founding through Fred Lawshe and his early creations, to pre-historic history of the region and rural electrification, or the stockyards. In October 2025 we opened another new exhibit: "A Dream of the Future: 125 Years of Women's Hockey in Minnesota." The exhibit covers 125 years of women playing ice hockey in the state, from the early games at the turn of the century, to the University of Minnesota's 1915-1930s club years. Our major renovation was completed in 2022 and we open in January 2023 with many brand-new exhibits. These exhibits include Pioneering Black Families of Dakota County, Agriculture: Women's Healthcare in Dakota County, Women's Suffrage, the history of Lockheed Martin and predecessor companies, as well as highlighted artifacts from the South St. Paul Stockyards.  Visit the oldest Euro-American settlement in Minnesota where four distinctive limestone buildings grace the Minnesota River bluff across from Historic Fort Snelling. The site includes four of Minnesota's oldest buildings, including the homes of Henry Hastings Sibley and Jean-Baptiste Faribault. The Sibley Historic Site offers events, seasonal guided tours, and a museum shop. Sibley Historic Site has the oldest Euro-American settlement in Minnesota https://dakotahistory.org/sibley-historic-site where four distinctive limestone buildings grace the Minnesota River bluff across from Historic Fort Snelling. These buildings mark the American Fur Company's control over the region's Dakota trade between 1825 and 1853, when Mendota was a major center of the region's fur trade. The Sibley Historic Site is on the southern bluff of the Minnesota River upstream from its confluence with the Mississippi, an area called Bdote by the Dakota people. We look forward to welcoming you this year! Please look online for more detailed information and learn mor about Dakota Counties rich history! 651-552-7548. https://dakotahistory.org/    

The Crossroads Museum, founded by Houston Mitchell and Hamilton Mask in 1854, in Corinth, Mississippi, was once billed as the Crossroads of the South because of the importance the city’s railroads played during the Civil War. Those two rail lines which crossed over each other at city center, made Corinth one of the most strategic transportation hubs fought over by both the Union and Confederate armies. Today the Crossroads Museum and Historic Corinth Depot sits only a few feet from railroad tracks that remain busy with frequent traffic from freight trains. In the front courtyard sits a Civil War canon used during the Battle of Shiloh. Exhibits In addition to railroad and Civil War history, the museum is home to thousands of artifacts detailing the city’s rich history in both cultural and industrial pursuits. Exhibits pay homage to aviation pioneer Roscoe Turner, baseball star Don Blasingame, NFL great Jackie Simpson, a Rotary Club’s impact on the community and a Southern delicacy known as the hot tamale. ​This year check out our “Green Market Days.” Voted Best Small Event by the Mississippi Tourism Association! The Green Market (free to the public) hosts an eclectic mix of local and regional artists, farmers, gardeners, and craftsmen who sell their hand crafted and home-made goods in an open-air, grassroots setting. Grab a snack at one of the food trucks and check out the local entertainment. As the banner fundraiser for the non-profit Crossroads Museum, there's something for everyone to enjoy! Our goal is to encourage folks to buy local and provide a place for everyone to gather and share ideas. https://www.corinthgreenmarket.net/ ​The Green Market 2025 dates are: Saturday June 7th, Saturday September 6th, Saturday October 4th, Saturday November 1st, and Friday December 5th. For more information on the Crossroads Museum and our Green Market events check out our website: https://www.crossroadsmuseum.com/  Crossroads Museum, 221 N. Fillmore St. Corinth, MS (662-287-3120)  

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, in Auburn, IN offers over 120 cars on exhibit on three levels! The museum dates back to the early 1900's! With various automotive themed galleries, we allow the visitor to experience everything from classic cars (as defined by the Classic Car Club of America), to Indiana built cars, to racing and engineering themed exhibits and the original Auburn Automobile Company showroom and company offices. There are seven main galleries displaying the museum’s automobile collection. , A MusuemsEach gallery reflects a different piece of the story the museum tells. In addition to these galleries, there are restored Auburn Automobile Company offices along with technology, art, and design exhibits. https://automobilemuseum.org/exhibits For the museum has become a vital part of our culture! It inspires innovation and engages diverse audiences to create personal connections that spark passion and appreciation for how art, design, mechanics, technology, and engineering affect the world and our daily lives. We host many events and programs throuhout the year https://automobilemuseum.org/events/museum-programs and welcome you to host an event here as well! The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum goal is to preserve the past and provide multigenerational audiences an educational and inspirational journey exploring the past, present, and future of the transportation industry while leveraging the Museum's collection as its foundation. We hope you will come and experience our museum that has over 125 years of history since it’s inception! We look forward to welcoming you and please learn more about us online:  https://automobilemuseum.org/ 260-925-1444 

You know how sometimes the most fascinating places are hiding right under our noses? The Museum of Missouri Military History in Jefferson City, MO is exactly that kind of delightful surprise! Tucked away on the grounds of the Missouri National Guard headquarters, this museum isn’t just another dusty collection of old uniforms behind glass. It’s a living, breathing time machine that tells the story of Missourians who’ve served in conflicts from the War of 1812 to modern-day deployments. And the best part? It’s one of those rare places where history feels personal, where you can almost hear the echoes of boots on battlefields and the whispers of soldiers’ letters home. The Museum of Missouri Military History is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of Missouri’s military history. Current exhibits include artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present era. Items on exhibit outside include an F-15 Eagle fighter, F-4 Phantom II fighter, Sherman tank, Sheridan Tank, as well as a C-130 Hercules. There’s something undeniably awe-inspiring about standing next to a Sherman tank – the real deal, not some replica – with its massive presence reminding you just how small we humans really are. The “Mighty Mo” Sherman tank sits proudly outside, its olive-green exterior weathered by time but still commanding respect. You can almost imagine it rumbling across European battlefields during World War II, carrying Missouri soldiers into the fight. Civil War artillery also comes to life in this thoughtfully designed exhibit—those wooden wheels carried history across battlefields long before tanks existed! As you move into more recent history, displays on Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm show how warfare evolved in the late 20th century. What’s particularly interesting is how the museum connects these more recent conflicts to Missouri’s economy and industry. So when you are vacationing this year in Missouri stop off in Jefferson City and visit the Museum of Missouri Military History, you will find it most insightful and interesting! Visit us online: https://www.facebook.com/MOMilitaryHistory#  573-638-9603.  

Here in Lubbock, we have two amazing museums that showcase aspects of the City’s unique history: the Buddy Holly Center and the Silent Wings Museum. The Buddy Holly Center preserves and promotes the legacy of Buddy Holly and the music of West Texas, as well as provides exhibitions on contemporary visual arts and music for the purpose of educating and entertaining the public. Exhibitions, tours, concerts, classes and gallery talks are designed to cultivate an atmosphere where art and music are celebrated. The Buddy Holly Gallery features a permanent exhibit on the life and music of the Lubbock native and West Texas icon. Artifacts include Buddy’s Fender Stratocaster guitar and his famed horn-rimmed glasses, along with items from his youth and career. The Silent Wings Museum is located six miles north of the Buddy Holly Center and is adjacent to the Preston Smith International Airport. It is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to preserving the history of the WWII military glider program. The museum is home to one of the few accurately and completely restored CG-4A gliders left in the world. The exhibits focus on the airborne operations in which gliders were used, the training of the glider pilots and the technical history of the gliders themselves. The Buddy Holly Center and the Silent Wings Museum are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. Visitors are welcome to check out our websites for the most up-to-date information on admission prices, special events and holiday hours. https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/buddy-holly-center 806-775-3560  https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/silent-wings-museum 806-775-3049

Nestled in the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the Wingfield Heritage House Museum invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of local history. Originally built in the 1920s by Ike and Lula Wingfield, the house served as a family residence for three generations before eventually becoming part of the heart of the community.   Today, beautifully restored to reflect its original character, the museum stands as both a tribute to the Wingfield legacy and a living record of Ruidoso’s development. Inside, each room is thoughtfully curated to tell stories about early settlement life, native cultures, and the growth of the region’s industries, arts, and tourism.  One of the museum’s signature projects is Ruidoso Rewind, a weekly radio show aired on KRUI The Mountain. The program, written and narrated by the museum’s curator Stephanie Long with production by Greg Widener, explores the hidden histories and significant events that shaped the Ruidoso area. In 2025, the show earned a prestigious Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), recognizing its role in bringing local heritage to life.  The Wingfield Heritage House Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is FREE. The museum also hosts community-oriented events, such as Hands-on History Family Day, which features interactive activities like retro games, historic handwriting practice, and artifact mystery challenges.  To help support its mission, the museum works closely with the Friends of the Wingfield Heritage House Museum, a nonprofit dedicated to fundraising, collecting artifacts, and engaging new volunteers. For those planning a visit or looking to contribute historical items from life, business, or tourism in the Ruidoso area, the Wingfield Heritage House Museum stands as a cherished gateway into the past—anchoring community memory and inspiring future discovery. https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/wingfield-heritage-house-museum  

The Taft Blackland Museum in Taft, Texas is a unique cultural and educational facility that focuses on the history and development of the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. We are located at 107 North Main Street, our museum houses a variety of artifacts, documents, photographs, and oral histories related to the settlement and development of the area. The museum is divided into two parts: the first part is we are dedicated to the history of the Blackland Prairie region, with exhibits highlighting its history from the pre-colonial era to the present day; the second part is dedicated to the contributions made by African American settlers and their descendants to the region.The Taft Blackland Museum offers educational programs and hosts special events throughout the year, such as lectures, field trips, and summer camps. The museum also houses a research library where visitors can access a variety of resources related to the history of the Blackland Prairie region.The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free. Visitors can explore the museum's exhibits, or take a guided tour with a knowledgeable docent. The museum also features a gift shop, where visitors can purchase souvenirs and books related to the history of the Blackland Prairie region. We look forward to welcoming you this year! 361-214-1247  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057326985508