National U.S. Army Museum To Open On Fort Belvoir In 2020

FORT BELVOIR, VA — The National Museum of the United States Army is coming to Fort Belvoir next year, the U.S. Army announced. The museum, which will tell the complete 244-year history of the army, will open on June 4, 2020.

The museum is being constructed on a publicly accessible area. Admission will be free.

"Millions of people have served in the Army, and this museum gives us the chance to tell their stories to the public, and show how they have served our nation and our people," said acting Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy in a statement.

The 185,000 square-foot museum will have history galleries telling stories of soldiers from the earliest militias to the modern day as well as a Medal of Honor Experience. There will also be an Army and Society Gallery with stories of Army innovations and the relationship between the Army, government and public. An Experiential Learning Center will provide an interactive learning space with hands-on geography, science, technology, engineering and math learning and team-building activities.

The Army anticipates the museum will draw 750,000 visitors in its first year. Free timed-entry tickets will be required to enter. More information about ticketing will become available in 2020.

The museum will be operated by the U.S. Army while the nonprofit Army Historical Foundation will manage the museum store, café, and catering services. The Army Historical Foundation is constructing the building through private funds, and the Army is providing the infrastructure, roads, utilities and exhibit work.

For more information, visit thenmusa.org.