The National Museum of the Pacific War is located in the Texas town of Fredericksburg, where Nimitz was born in 1885. Nimitz went on to lead the Combined U.S. Force to victory over Japan in WWII. The museum opened in 1967 under its original name, Chester W. Nimitz Memorial Naval Museum.
Through a series of changes, it eventually became the National Museum of the Pacific War. The museum was transferred in 2005 to the Texas Historical Commission to be administered.
What’s in the National Museum of the Pacific War?
The National Museum of the Pacific War is considered to be one of the premier military museums in the nation.
The complex covers six acres. This includes a variety of components — so many, in fact, that the admission ticket gives you two days (48 hours) to explore it.
The museum main entrance is into the old Nimitz Hotel.
Here, Admiral Nimitz spent much of his boyhood growing up in Fredericksburg. Built in 1852, the hotel had welcomed many illustrious guests over the years including President Rutherford B. Hayes and General Robert E. Lee.
As the museum’s collection grew, additional sections were added. These include the Memorial Courtyard, the Plaza of Presidents, the Japanese Garden of Peace and the George H. W. Bush Gallery.
A Variety of Exhibits
One of the intriguing aspects of the museum is that it curates a variety of artifacts from all of the participants in WW2.
The fighter plane, on the left, is Japanese.
It was designed to support defensive operations in advance of available airstrips.
We also found the George H. W. Bush Gallery particularly amazing.
The collection includes 40 media installations and approximately 900 artifacts in 97 climate-controlled display cases.
For many, the stories created by 6000 WWII veterans preserved in the oral history archive in the museum, and online, are the most remarkable.
Living History Events at the Museum
My one regret was that our visit wasn’t on one of the museum’s Living History events.
What happens at them? Well, the museum holds a weekend of re-enactments on selected Saturdays from March to November in an outdoor theater called the Pacific Combat Zone.
Indeed, the Living History event presents an authentic re-enactment using U.S. army and marines military vehicles, weapons and tactics, as well as those of the Imperial Japanese Army. The battles include Tarawa, Peleliu, Saipan and Iwo Jima.
I’ve added the event to a bucket list for my next trip to Texas!
Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits
My favorite exhibit was the outdoor scale map of the Pacific War. I’m a kind of big-picture person, and the map really help portray the enormity of the task of defending the Pacific from invasion.
The map is dotted with islands and warships, so you can see the massive coverage of the fleet. As you walk back and forth, from country to country and ship to ship, you start to experience the enormity of the conflict.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
Fredericksburg, with its 40-block historic district and 367 buildings, is an amazing stop for history lovers.
The buildings span several centuries, making it important state-wide.
Indeed, the Historic Fredericksburg District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on October 14, 1970.
Interested in the story of the Fredericksburg Historic District? Enjoy the handbook prepared by the Office of Community Planning and Development.
Where Should You Stay in Fredericksburg?
The place to stay if you’re into World War 2 history in Fredericksburg is the Hangar Hotel.
One of the things we especially appreciated about The Hangar Hotel was its stylish adult environment — it’s nice to know you’re not going to be next-door to a room full of excited kids when you’re on holidays.
And of course, that 1940s USO history feel permeated the hotel from the model planes hanging in many places, to the Officer’s Club, where we spent the evening relaxing to amazing piano music from the era.
But of course, a theme can only take you so far when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. While the 1940s often lacked in amenities, at the Hangar Hotel they were in great supply from excellent pillows to Egyptian cotton sheets. And while the bathroom’s black and white color scheme took us back in time, the granite counters and multi-globe lighting were perfectly modern.
My favorite part of the room though, had to be the armchairs. I could have slept in one, sunk into its bomber jacket leather!
Where Should You Eat in Fredericksburg?
Fredericksburg has many options when it comes to food! When dinner rolled around we decided to try some ethnic fine dining at Friedhelm’s Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Bar. And we weren’t disappointed.
Inside, the decor took me back to Bavaria and my first trip to Europe many years ago. The menu was packed with popular authentic Bavarian foods, too.
So, of course, I had to try the Jager Schnitzel with its mushroom sauce. For a starter, I sampled the cabbage soup and fresh baked bread.
The only problem I ran into was that I was too full for dessert!
We’ve found that when you visit Texas, barbeque is always on the menu. So, we checked out a Southern favorite, mesquite-cooked pit barbecue.
The Backwoods BBQ was a casual spot, with fast and efficient cafeteria-type service. The toughest part was trying not to hold up others more familiar with the luncheon menu while we selected our meat. So, we asked for a few samples. David and I selected brisket and ribs, added some potato salad and a mix of beans, and sat down to enjoy!
Who Should Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War?
If you’re looking for a different perspective of World War II, the National Museum of the Pacific War is perfect. Taking you into all of the theaters in the Pacific, it provides many details and insights not in WW2 museums focused on other areas.
For those who love history, there are really a couple of days worth of material to explore. If your interest is research and print materials, there’s an extensive collection of letters, diaries, official records, maps, photographs and more.
The collection's artifacts are well-displayed with lots of data and many photo backdrops. All ages will find something appealing in the displays.
The museum covers a large area, but those with mobility issues will still see most things.
When it comes to the kids, you may find visiting during one of the re-enactments the most engaging for them.
How Do You Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War?
The National Museum of the Pacific is located at 311 E Austing St., Fredericksburg, Texas. I-95 cuts through the Western portion of the city.
Open year-round, you can check days and hours on the museum website.
Keep up-to-date with what’s happening at the Museum of the Pacific War Facebook page.
Experience the museum virtually with their YouTube channel.
Start planning your visit to the Museum of the Pacific War Google map.
Discover More Military & War Museums
- Excellent Military Museum: Nanaimo, BC
The Vancouver Island Military Museum is in Nanaimo, BC. Lodged in an historic octagon-shaped building, it has 25+ major exhibits and displays. - Unforgettable Pacific War Museum in Texas
The National Museum of the Pacific War is located inFredericksburg, Texas. With comprehensive coverage of the Pacific theaters and regularly scheduled re-enactments, it’s a must-see Texas attraction. - Mind-blowing Cold War Aircraft at Hill Aerospace Museum
A free attraction, the Hill Aerospace Museum is military aviation museum. The collection includes 90+ military aircraft and missiles. - 1942 Battleship & 1941 Submarine: Mobile, Alabama
Battleship Memorial Park is home to both a 1942 battleship and a 1941 submarine. It also includes an aircraft pavilion with some Cold War planes. - Incredible WWII Museum in Minnesota
Visit this Minnesota WWII museum to find many unique artifacts from the war. It also features large realistic wall murals depicting important battles. - Exposing WWII’s Manhattan Project in WA
The National Historical Park B Reactor in Hanford, WA, was one of three sites in the Manhattan Project. Take a free tour to see the reactor as it looked during operations. - Massive WWII Museum Collection in New Orleans
The National WWII Museum takes you to 27 countries around the world, covering all the theaters of WWII. It also has a Dog Tag experience that let each visitor have a real-life story to follow.
Acknowledgements
David and I were hosted for one night at the Hangar Hotel. Our museum admission was also complimentary.
guide2museums.com 