Editor’s note: No need for a plane ticket. Put that passport away. This story is part of a series that features regional attractions outside of the Williamsburg area that can be driven to with less than one tank of gas. Buckle up and hit the road.
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Joint Base Langley-Eustis is a hidden gem that is full of surprises.
Just beyond the secure entrance of Fort Eustis, the museum showcases dozens of original vehicles and aircraft, along with artwork and artifacts that chronicle the long history of U.S. Army transportation.
Spanning 6 acres, the 50,000-square-foot museum and its outdoor parks and pavilions make it one of the largest facilities in the Army Museum system — which is nationwide. Members of the military and their families comprise many of the roughly 65,000 annual visitors, although the museum is also open to civilians.
The museum’s collection includes nearly 100 “big” artifacts ranging from planes, helicopters, tugboats and landing craft to trucks, jeeps, hovercraft and trains.These artifacts offer a distinctive timeline of the Army through the years.
A horse-drawn escort wagon, used to ferry supplies to troops fighting in the Spanish-American War, for instance, offers a sharp contrast to the World War II-era M29 Weasel, a tracked vehicle used to navigate snowy terrain.
The aircraft on display range from the familiar to the unique, like the only surviving gun truck from the Vietnam War and the only surviving hovercraft to see combat in that war. The museum also houses an interesting collection of experimental aircraft and the first helicopter to fly to the South Pole.
Since World War II, Fort Eustis has been the hub of Army transportation operations and training. Soldiers from Fort Eustis are deployed to support American military operations around the globe.
Fort Eustis is therefore a logical home for many different examples of military machines that have been used to transport people and supplies. All but one of the museum’s vehicles, a reproduced 18th-century wagon, are original and were once used in military service.
Often the vehicles offer poignant perspectives on the sacrifices Americans made in foreign wars. The fortified gun truck “Eve of Destruction” was the only one of 300 or more such vehicles that made it back from the Vietnam War, the rest having been scrapped or destroyed.
Military enthusiasts will enjoy the comprehensive explanations and signage in the galleries, along with the extra displays, such as uniforms and original military-themed artwork.
Parents and grandparents will appreciate a few outdoor pavilions which shelter locomotives, rail cars, aircraft and trucks. Wide-open spaces accommodate children and not-quite-inside voices.
Admission to the Transportation Museum is free, as is parking. At the base’s main gate, military police will require all adult civilian visitors to provide government-issued identification, along with the automobile’s registration, and they will search each vehicle. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and now offers guided tours for parties of 10 or more. The 1½-hour-long tour is free and is led by an experienced staff member.
The Transportation Museum is one of more than 100 history and heritage facilities nationwide that are part of the Army’s Center of Military History. At less than a half-hour drive from most points in the Historic Triangle, the Transportation Museum is the most accessible for area residents.
From Williamsburg: Click here for driving directions
If you go: The Army Transportation Museum has more information about its exhibits and programming on its website and Facebook page.
