Updated: 3/25/2011 
Musuem of 20th Century Warfare
Indianapolis, Indiana
Description

Our building is located in Fort Harrison State Park in the historic Camp Glenn area - building #711.

Our programming consists of re-enactments and living history camps around Indiana with many of them being based out of Fort Harrison State Park here in central Indiana. We also visit schools and youth groups with our traveling display. Our biggest display every year is at the Indianapolis Air Show at Mt Comfort Airport each year. indyairshow.com

We have items such as a 14 foot model of the USS Indianapolis as part of the permanent collection, and display space that rotates displays every 3 months. Items may be loaned to the museum temporarily or donated. Both programs are avaialalbe. Some displays are seasonal ( ie: a Battle of the Bulge display from Dec to Jan, the time of the battle )We also have special exihibitions that travel.

We have a staff photographer with an area set up for documenting items - as well as a bed scanner for documents, slide scanner, slide light table, humidity box. We work with other larger institutions ( Indiana State Library ) for help with conservation on large items ( lg maps, blankets, etc. ) We make this service availablt to other institutions.

We will have a roundtable discussion group each 2nd Thursday of the month, at the museum from 7pm - 9pm

Mission

The Museum of 20th Century Warfare is dedicated to its four cornerstones: Education - Honor - Integrity - Charity . We honor all Veterans from all wars, past, present and future while we teach about the technology, artifacts, uniforms and soldiers of the 20th Century. We strive to ensure that our past defenders of Freedom are never forgotten. The tools we have at our disposal are authentic and reproduction uniforms, artifacts, recorded accounts, documents, re-enactors and our Veterans. We are ever mindful that all our Veterans are our valued warriors.

Artifact Collections

20th Century military items donated by Veterans

Research Collections

Library on site, 1500 plus books and counting, librarian, archivist, staff historians and docents available

Programs

Docents are available for tours each day the museum is open without prearrangements, however special tours may be booked on the days that we are normally closed. There is no cost for the museum for any program, but the park charges an entrance fee at the gate. We have a 20th Century Roundtable discussion the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 pm, we can schedule trips to schools, we have teacher packets available with program ideas for WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and Desert Storm including reading lists and suggested media.

Facilities
Performance Areas
Library

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: False

Services
Group Tours
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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