Grand opening slated for Missouri military museum

Charles Machon talks about a section of the Museum of Military History, which features the history of black soldiers who served very early in Missouris history as a state. This and other displays will soon be open to the public at the new location of the museum on the grounds at the Missouri National Guard headquarters in Jefferson City. Photo by Julie Smith.

Visitors will pass by a fighter jet and yesteryear tanks to enter the Museum of Missouri Military History after its Dec. 7 grand opening at a new location.

They will walk into the shared lobby with the Patriot Center, the first right after entering the Ike Skelton Training Site, before being greeted at the visitor kiosk with looping photos of the museums holdings.

Photo by Julie Smith

Maj. Alan Brown builds a childrens corner in the Museum of Military History at the Missouri National Guard headquarters. The local museum will serve as the anchor for the newly developed Veterans Trail. The trail includes this museum and more than 40 existing memorials, monuments and grave markers within about a 30-mile radius from Jefferson City.

The three-story high ceiling of the nearly 7,000-square-foot facility gives the museums new location an even larger feel. Visitors will have space to navigate the dozens of themed exhibits, including large weaponry, full uniforms and accoutrements and lots of other artifacts.

In the back of the display area is a field tent set up for films, expected to be popular with the dozens of elementary field trips that visit during their day at the Capitol. And in the front, children will enjoy the corner with real uniforms and items they can touch and try on.

Visitors with smartphones will be able to access additional information about each exhibit, using QR codes.

All of these features were not possible at the museums former location.

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Grand opening slated for Missouri military museum