CNN has just announced a list of the best military museums in the world, including many representatives from the US and UK.
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Imperial War Museum, London, UK (IWM):Founded in 1917 during World War I, the IWM has just celebrated its 100th anniversary. This is one of the most magnificent weapons museums in the world, with giant guns, fighter planes, warships... Visitors can also visit the Churchill War Room command system, tour the World War II warship HMS Belfast or visit nearby destinations such as the Royal Air Force Museum, the National Army Museum... |
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| National WWI Museum and Memorial, Missouri, USA:The museum began as a memorial after 1918, making it the world’s second-oldest World War I museum, and was built entirely by the public. It now houses more than 75,000 artifacts, most of which were donated by veterans. After a renovation and expansion about a decade ago, it has become a top tourist attraction in Kansas, with the 220-foot-tall Liberty Memorial Tower overlooking the city. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities and events throughout the year. |
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| National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, UK:Home to ancient maritime artifacts, this museum is sure to satisfy the curiosity of many enthusiasts of ancient military weapons. It houses the HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar from 1805, and the oldest naval vessel still in service. Among them, the HMS Warrior is a typical example of a warship that combines the design of a sailing ship with a steam engine. The HMS M.33 is a ship that survived the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. However, the gallery is currently closed to the public. A new museum will open at Portsmouth Historic Park in spring 2020. |
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| Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow, Russia:The museum is a reminder of the enormous human and material losses suffered by the former Soviet states during the war. The complex, located in the Pobedy Park in west-central Moscow, was inaugurated in 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. It has three major memorial buildings: one honoring those who received the Hero of the Soviet Union award, and the other commemorating the more than 26 million people who died during the war. |
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| Les Invalides, Paris, France:The museum is located in Les Invalides, on the banks of the Seine in central Paris. The main building of the complex, topped with a golden dome, was built in the 17th century on the orders of King Louis XIV. It was originally a retirement home for war veterans, but now also includes the French Army Museum and a museum displaying military models. |
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| Museum of Military History, Vienna, Austria (Museum of Military History):The museum was founded in the mid-19th century by order of Emperor Franz Joseph. Its original purpose was to highlight Austria’s role as a military superpower. But the collections have been updated periodically, covering both world wars, the interwar period and the Cold War. One of the most notable items on display is the car involved in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, which marked the start of the war. |
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| National Naval Aviation Museum, Florida, USA:The museum features a collection of more than 150 aircraft, a flight simulator and the "Blue Angels 4D" virtual reality experience. |
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| Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, Brussels, Belgium:Belgium’s geography has made it a battlefield during both world wars. As a result, it now has many war relics and a first-class military museum. The museum, located in the Parc du Cinquantenaire in central Brussels, is part of the War Heritage Institute, an organization that manages military historical sites in Belgium. The museum displays a collection of weapons and armored vehicles from the Middle Ages to the present day. The latest addition to the collection is an F-16 fighter jet. |
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| Dutch Resistance Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands:This small museum, conveniently located next to Amsterdam’s historic centre, offers visitors an often-unseen side of the war, such as life and death on both sides of the front lines. The museum is designed to highlight the lived experience, with lots of real-life artifacts set in context, and stories from those who lived through the period. There is also a Children’s Resistance Museum, which approaches the subject from a child’s perspective. |
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| National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA (National Infantry Museum):In October, the museum will unveil a memorial to the global war on terror, which will include a steel beam pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center and the names of service members killed in the 9/11 attacks. |
According to VNE
