THE LAST 100 YARDS
It’s said that the infantry owns the last 100 yards of the fight. This exhibit features incredibly detailed and life-sized models of soldiers, as well as theatrical lighting, sound effects and three military vehicles — a Waco CG-4A glider, a UH-1 (Huey) helicopter and an M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. It unfolds along an ascending 100-foot ramp and depicts these battles:
American Revolution: Capture of Redoubt No. 10 (Oct. 14, 1781, Yorktown, Va.)
Civil War: Battle of Antietam (Sept. 17, 1862, Sharpsburg, Md.)
World War I: Battle of Soissons (July 18, 1918, Soissons, France)
World War II: Landing of Omaha Beach (June 6, 1944, Normandy, France)
World War II: Recapturing the Rock (Feb. 16, 1945, Corregidor Island, Philipines)
Korean War: Millett’s Bayonet Attack (Feb. 7, 1951, Soam-Ni, Korea)
Vietnam War: Air Assault at Landing Zone X-Ray (Nov. 14, 1965, Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam)
Iraq War: Desert Wars (Oct. 12, 2003, Northwest of Bayji, Iraq)
SIX ERA GALLERIES
Each gallery takes visitors back to specific periods of American history, highlighting the importance of the infantry to each one. A combat locator map shows troop movements, and unique immersive experiences put visitors on the battlefield.
1. SECURING OUR FREEDOMS
Era: 1607-1815 Focus: Early colonies, Seven Years War, American Revolution, War of 1812 Note: This exhibit is under construction and will open later.
2. DEFINING A NATION
Era: 1815-1898 Focus: Frontier Indian Wars, Mexican War, Civil War Note: This exhibit is under construction and will open later.
3. INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Era: 1898-1920 Focus: Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, World War I Immersive experience: A WWI fighting trench.
4. A WORLD POWER
Era: 1920-1947 Focus: World War II, Pacific Theater, European Theater Key artifacts: An imperial Japanese gas mask, a burned copy of “Mein Kampf,” letters to the troops from Bradley and Eisenhower, Bill Mauldlin sketches from the battlefield Immersive experience: “Voices of the Infantry” describes combat in the words of the men who were there. Other highlights: A rotating globe in the floor that flashes projected images of key maneuvers.
5. THE COLD WAR
Era: 1947-1989 Focus: Korean War, Vietnam War, Grenada Key artifacts: Pieces of the Berlin Wall Immersive experience: A jungle simulating stifling heat, dangers like Punji sticks and glimpses of an elusive enemy. Other highlights: A model bunker.
6. THE SOLE SUPERPOWER
Era: 1989-Present Focus: Peacekeeping operations, Gulf War, War on Terrorism Immersive experience: “We Own the Night,” which shows how night vision techniques help soldiers win the fight.
FAMILY GALLERY
Mission: To show how families support their soldiers Interactive experience: A recording booth for creating oral histories; a closet of uniforms that children can try on.
FORT BENNING GALLERY
Mission: To salute the history of Fort Benning, how it trains soldiers and its relationship with Columbus Immersive experience: A shooting gallery with military weapons. (Fee charged.)
