The US Army Transportation Museum stands as the premier institution dedicated solely to preserving and showcasing the rich history of Military Transport within the United States Army. It offers a comprehensive journey through time, illustrating how the Army’s transportation methods have evolved from the rudimentary horse-drawn wagons of the Revolutionary War era to the sophisticated armored vehicles and meticulously planned unit movements of today’s modern military landscape.
Through an extensive collection of artifacts, compelling imagery, and detailed dioramas, the museum vividly narrates the compelling story of the Transportation Corps. Visitors can witness firsthand the evolution of military transport, understanding its crucial role in every facet of Army operations. The museum’s exhibits underscore how the ability to effectively move personnel and materiel has been – and continues to be – a decisive factor in military success.
Boasting over 7,000 artifacts, including an impressive display of over 135 military vehicles, the US Army Transportation Museum provides an unparalleled educational experience. These exhibits, combined with meticulously curated artifacts, powerfully convey the profound narrative of how military transport has been instrumental in enabling the US Army to project power and sustain operations for over 250 years. A visit to the museum offers a unique opportunity to delve into the pivotal role and evolving mission of military transport within the US Army, revealing its significant impact on shaping American history.
Our museum’s motto, “Our history will move you,” perfectly encapsulates the impactful legacy of military transport. Just as it has propelled the US Army forward for centuries, the museum aims to move visitors through a captivating exploration of this vital military domain.
Accessing the Museum
The Transportation Museum welcomes all individuals with base access to explore its exhibits. For entry to the base, visitors aged 16 and above must present valid photo identification. Non-Department of Defense personnel aged 18 and older are required to undergo a criminal history check via VCIN/NCIC to obtain base access. For comprehensive details regarding base access procedures, please refer to https://www.jble.af.mil/Home/Base-Access/.
Foreign nationals planning a visit are requested to contact the museum at (757) 878-1115 to arrange their visit in advance. Please note that additional requirements apply for foreign visitors, and a minimum of 45 days is needed for processing visit requests.
The museum prioritizes accessibility, ensuring a comfortable experience for all visitors. Concrete sidewalks provide smooth pathways to most outdoor exhibits, making the museum largely handicapped accessible.
For detailed directions to the Transportation Museum, please visit our Contact page.
Operating Hours
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed: Sunday – Monday
Admission and Parking
Admission and parking at the Museum are always complimentary. Ample parking space is available, including accommodations for RVs, trailers, and buses, ensuring convenient access for all visitors.
Guided Tours
Please be advised that guided tours will not be available after October 1, 2024.
Currently, the Transportation Museum offers guided tours for groups of 10 or more, free of charge. These tours, lasting approximately 1.5 hours, are conducted by knowledgeable staff members or volunteers. To ensure staff availability, tour reservations must be made at least TWO WEEKS in advance. For further information or to book a tour, please contact us at (757) 878-1115.
Explore Our Exhibits
The historical narrative of Army Transportation extends far beyond the Transportation Corps itself. Throughout every conflict, the U.S. Army has faced the critical task of procuring effective military transport, strategically planning routes, and coordinating with diverse specialized units to maintain operational effectiveness. The museum’s exhibits showcase a vast array of unique artifacts, complemented by informative photographs, archival documents, and detailed background information. Together, these elements narrate the captivating story of military transport within the U.S. Army and its evolution across different eras.
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Colonial Era Transportation
During Colonial America, characterized by a predominantly agrarian society, major roadways were scarce. Maritime routes served as the primary arteries of transportation between colonies, while rivers functioned as the principal inland highways. Roads were rudimentary and often rendered impassable by adverse weather conditions, highlighting the logistical challenges of early military transport.
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Civil War Transportation
Significant advancements in military transport remained limited until the American Civil War. This pivotal conflict spurred both Union and Confederate forces to develop strategic military transport networks, integrating both traditional and emerging technologies to manage logistics and troop movement.
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Overseas Endeavors
The Spanish-American War marked America’s first significant undertaking to deploy and sustain troops on foreign soil. The expertise in military transport networks developed during the Civil War had diminished in the subsequent peacetime, proving to be a costly oversight as the military adapted to overseas operations.
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World War I
World War I was a period of significant innovation in military transport, witnessing the establishment of the Army Transport Service (ATS) and the Motor Transport Corps (MTC). This era marked the transition from horse-drawn wagons to motorized vehicles, such as the Liberty Standard B truck, the first vehicle built to government specifications for military use.
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Inter-War Years (1919-1940)
In the aftermath of World War I, the newly formed Army Transportation Corps focused on the monumental task of repatriating the American Expeditionary Force back to the United States, showcasing the crucial role of military transport in post-conflict operations.
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World War II
The World War II exhibit vividly portrays the global scale of U.S. Army Transportation Corps operations across diverse theaters, including North Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, the Pacific, and the home front. It underscores the indispensable role of military transport in conducting global warfare.
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Korean War
The Korean War, also known as the Korean UN Police Action, once again placed the Transportation Corps in a central role in the Pacific region, necessitating extensive military transport capabilities to support operations.
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Cold War
The Cold War era did not diminish the Army’s military transport requirements; instead, it expanded them. Global deployments and the constant readiness posture demanded continuous advancements and adaptations in military logistics and transportation.
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Army Transportation Experimental Vehicles
The specialized demands of military transport have consistently driven the development of groundbreaking vehicles and systems, many of which remain in use today. This exhibit highlights the innovation and ingenuity spurred by military needs.
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Vietnam War
The Vietnam War again required the Transportation Corps to amplify its efforts in the Pacific, underscoring the adaptability and scalability of military transport operations in complex and challenging environments.
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Transportation Corps Army Officer Candidate School (OCS)
During the peak of the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army faced the challenge of rapidly training a sufficient number of officers for deployment. The Transportation Corps OCS played a crucial role in developing leaders for military transport units.
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Global Contingencies
The military transport needs of the Army extend beyond major conflicts, encompassing global contingency operations, including humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, demonstrating the versatility of military logistics.
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Desert Shield/Storm/Farewell
The redeployment of U.S. Forces following the Gulf War, named Operation Desert Farewell, showcased the Transportation Corps’ critical role in returning personnel and equipment from theater, highlighting the logistical complexities of large-scale military transport operations.
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Global War on Terrorism
Explore the United States Army Transportation Corps’ crucial involvement in the Global War on Terrorism. This exhibit examines how advancements in technology, from the HMMWV to the MRAP, have enhanced force protection for Soldiers on contemporary battlefields, reflecting the ongoing evolution of military transport.
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Aviation Pavilion
The Aviation Pavilion comprehensively narrates the evolution of aviation within the Army, featuring helicopters, airplanes, and experimental aircraft, illustrating the aerial dimension of military transport.
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Marine Park
The Marine Park exhibit encompasses a diverse collection of landing craft, tugboats, patrol boats, and amphibious vehicles, showcasing the crucial role of maritime assets in military transport operations.
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Rail Pavilion
The museum’s Rail Pavilion, an expansive outdoor exhibit, houses over 35 trains and heavy equipment transporters from our collection, highlighting the historical significance of rail in military transport.
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Truck Pavilion
In a single view, the Truck Pavilion traces the developmental lineage of the Army Jeep from World War II through the Vietnam War, demonstrating the pivotal role of trucks in military transport across various conflicts.
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Plan Your Visit
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum is open to the American public without charge. Access to Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) requires a valid state or national identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.). Detailed information regarding entry to JBLE is available at the JBLE Visitor Center [link – same as entry page].
For a comprehensive visit, we recommend allocating at least two hours to explore the museum. The facility includes 24,000 square feet of indoor galleries and four outdoor exhibit areas, most of which are sheltered. The main galleries and the majority of outdoor displays are wheelchair accessible. Ample free parking is available for visitors.
We are a family-friendly museum, with a wide array of vehicles and life-size dioramas designed to engage and captivate visitors of all ages, both military and civilian.
The exhibits chronologically span the history of military transport in the U.S. Army, starting from the Continental Army in 1775 to the present day. The museum is designed for self-guided tours, but guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more, focusing on specific collection areas. Tour requests can be made here [link to museum tour portion on main page].
Please note that the Museum does not have an on-site café or restaurant. To preserve the artifacts, food and drinks are not permitted in the gallery spaces. Currently, audio or smartphone-based tours are not available.
Fun Facts
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Artifact of the Month: December 2024
Traditional Laplander/Sami Four Wind Hat
Learn about LTC (R) Antero Havola, a Finnish-born cold weather instructor who sought political asylum in the U.S. after Operation Lead Dog. His expertise was crucial in Deep Freeze 1961. Discover more in December’s featured article about this intriguing artifact related to military transport in extreme conditions.
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Reservation Policies
The museum facilities are available for reservation by public groups for official meetings or briefings, specifically for US Military Command Sponsored events with mandatory attendance, such as change of command ceremonies, development programs, graduations, and official government functions. These official functions are provided space usage without fees, supporting military and government activities related to military transport and logistics.
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Media
MacArthur As A Military Leader Lecture by: Chris Kolakowski
Listen to Chris Kolakowski’s lecture on General MacArthur, a key figure in military history whose leadership heavily involved strategic military transport and logistics.
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General Frank S. Besson Jr.
General Frank S. Besson Jr., born May 30, 1910, was instrumental in developing critical equipment for combat support during his assignment to the Engineer Board at Fort Belvoir, Virginia in 1940. His innovations, including Pierced Steel Planking (PSP), significantly advanced military transport infrastructure.
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Research
Please be aware that research requests may experience delays after October 1, 2024, due to staffing shortages. We are committed to addressing all requests as promptly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum is one of many repositories for materials related to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Numerous other archives hold resources connected to U.S. Army military transport, equipment, and personnel. For more information.
