Located off I-95, roughly 17 miles south of Arlington in Fort Belvoir, the National Museum of the United States Army tells the history of America’s oldest military branch, established in 1775. Freestanding pylons—each with an etched image of a soldier and accompanying biography—stretch from the museum’s exterior into the entryway, through the lobby, and to the Army Concourse.
Opened on Veterans Day 2020, the 185,000-square-foot museum chronicles both Army history and the history of the United States through art, artifacts, audio tours, talks with docents and more. Themed exhibit areas include Founding the Nation, Army and Society, Global War, Cold War and Preserving the Nation.
An entire visit could be spent in the Experiential Learning Center, where visitors of all ages can hone their geography, science, technology, engineering and math skills through immersive activities. In the “Fort Discover” play space, kids can climb an Army tower, drop cargo supplies, launch a space rocket and drive a jeep. Animated Army mules Buckshot and Blackjack share Army innovations across history—from the creation of interstate highways, to the Panama Canal and satellite communications—via interactive video games.
Open daily (except Dec. 25) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free timed-entry tickets are available online or at the museum’s entrance. The building is located outside of Fort Belvoir’s restricted area.
National Museum of the United States Army, 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 800-506-2672