Fredericksburg's National Museum of the Pacific War
You don't have to be a history buff to be moved and inspired by a visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. Since it opened in 1967, the museum has worked to put what happened in the Asiatic-Pacific theater during World War II into perspective, helping visitors understand what led the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It's consistently rated as one of the best military museums in the country, making it a must-see during your next visit to Texas Hill Country.
A Smithsonian affiliate, the National Museum of the Pacific War encompasses six acres, with galleries and outdoor spaces that provides a comprehensive account of World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific theater through personal stories, authentic artifacts, living history reenactments, monuments and gardens. The George H.W. Bush Gallery follows the war through the major battles in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. The gallery's 33,000-square-foot exhibition features 40 multi-media installations and 900 artifacts including 15 large-scale items such as ships and planes.
The Admiral Nimitz Gallery explores the life and naval career of Fredericksburg native Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz through an extensive collection of interactive multimedia exhibits and artifacts. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Nimitz as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. A few months later, he was named commander in chief of the Pacific Ocean Areas with control over all Allied air, land and sea forces in that area.
The museum's Pacific Combat Zone, which is two blocks east of the main museum campus, provides insight into the strategic challenges of fighting an island enemy over thousands of miles of open water. On four Saturdays a year, living history actors bring the Pacific Combat Zone alive as they recreate combat in an hour-long educational show. Shorter Outpost programs are offered from March to November. In addition to the Pacific Combat Zone, there are three other significant outdoor sites: the Memorial Courtyard, the Plaza of Presidents and the Japanese Garden of Peace.
The museum is open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make the trek to the heart of Fredericksburg to immerse yourself in the recounting of history and hear the personal stories of real people who lived and died during the Pacific War.
"God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless." – Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
National Museum of the Pacific War
311 E. Austin St.
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
830-997-8600
