The award-winning National Museum of Military Vehicles is a world-class military history museum which opened southeast of Dubois, WY in August of 2020. Inside the 160,000 sq. foot Museum, visitors will find nearly 500 fully restored military vehicles, artillery pieces, naval vessels and aircraft dating from 1897 to the present with a current emphasis on the American experience in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The focus of the museum is to tell the stories of how these vehicles were used and to remember the valor of service members who fought, and sometimes died, in them.
The museum also houses a large, historically significant, firearms collection.
The privately funded $100M museum was founded by Dan and Cynthia Starks. Dan Starks is a former attorney and former CEO of St. Jude Medical.
To honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families; To educate next generations on the history of American freedom; To preserve and share historic military vehicles.
The General George C. Marshall Gallery
The Marshall Gallery tells the story of the American experience in World War II.
The gallery begins with the stories of amphibious landings and the specialized vehicles created to make landings in southern France, North Africa, Italy and throughout the Pacific Theatre successful.
The Marshall Gallery then leads visitors to North Africa, the European Theatre and the Battle of Bataan in the Pacific Theatre where 10,000 prisoners died during the march to POW camps.
Next, visitors will experience the U.S. Combat Vehicles Rotunda where examples of every major U.S. ground vehicle used in World War II are displayed.
The Red Ball Express is featured and was famous as an example of American ingenuity and what our troops did to stay in the fight against Germany to resupply Canadian, British and American troops after the Battle of Normandy.
The Gallery concludes with examples of late war campaigns and the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan and thoughts about the cost of war where over 76 million lost their lives.
The General Lewis "Chesty" Puller Gallery
The Puller Gallery, opened in May of 2021, explores the American experience in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, told through an internationally significant collection of military vehicles.
The story of the Pusan Perimeter is told and remembers one of the first major engagements of the Korean War. The battle included forces from the Republic of Korea Army (ROK), United States, and United Kingdom who became trapped in a tiny corner of South Korea with their backs against the sea.
Next, visitors move to Inchon where an American amphibious assault behind enemy lines forced North Korea to retreat from the Pusan Perimeter.
After Inchon comes the battle of Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, which was captured and recaptured four times in nine months in back-and-forth fighting.
From Seoul, visitors will experience a diorama about fighting at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir on the North Korean border with China in harsh winter conditions. After a Chinese attack, the battle became the longest retreat in American military history and led to the ultimate signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, which remains in effect today.
Visitors will next transition into the museum’s presentation of the Vietnam War. One of the first displays is of a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” Helicopter. The exhibit explains why Vietnam is sometimes called the Helicopter War.
Next, visitors will experience a diorama about Women in Service. More than 7,000 women volunteered to serve in Vietnam, and eight were killed in action.
The exhibits show how American soldiers fought and died in an extreme range of circumstances. Some served in road convoys, fought in jungles or in urban combat, while others fought in outposts, firebases and river boats.
General George S. Patton, Jr. Gallery
The Patton Gallery explores America’s first mechanized combat action in the history of the United States Army with an emphasis on the use of military vehicles, including tanks, during World War I. Exhibits in this gallery will rotate from time to time and include small display cases and vehicles.
Highlights include a Dodge Touring Car, the first motor vehicle used by the United States in combat in 1916, vehicles used in World War I, and a remembrance of John “Black Jack” Pershing, commander of the American expeditionary forces in Europe in World War I.
Unknown Soldiers Weapons Vault
Of the 200-plus historically significant firearms on display, the prized firearm is the rifle that fired the first shot at Bunker Hill. Known as the Private John Simpson Musket, the firearm is a .79-caliber Dutch flintlock musket. The musket symbolizes the role of the citizen soldier, the origins of the 2nd Amendment and the beginning of our nation.
Other highlights include a revolver once owned by Wyatt Earp, a model 1873 Winchester owned by the Lakota War Chief Rain-in-the-Face who fought in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876 also known as Custer’s Last Stand, and a machine gun in a briefcase.
The display also contains General Patton’s .45 sidearm and the entire Winchester firearms collection from 1866-1966.
Outdoor Wall of Reflection
A M60 Main Battle Tank is prominently displayed in front of the Wall of Reflection where several quotations remind visitors why we honor and thank our Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America.
The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the summer with the exception of July 4th, when the museum participates in the Dubois Town Fourth of July Parade with several tanks and other military vehicles driven in the parade. Days and hours of operation in late fall, winter and early spring may be reduced. Current hours are listed below on this page.
Free daily gallery tours are available. You can find our tour schedule here.
Tripadvisor has recognized The National Museum of Military Vehicles as a 2022 and 2023 Travelers' Choice award winner. The prestigious award celebrates the world-class museum, near Dubois, Wyoming, which has received great traveler reviews from around the globe on Tripadvisor. Also, The National Museum of Military Vehicles was recognized as one of the 10 best new attractions in the U.S. for 2020 in a national competition conducted by USA Today.
The new Poolaw Building on the expanding campus of the National Museum of Military Vehicles is open. Inside, guests will see additional office space, a food court, additional exhibits and a 600-seat Assembly Hall that is large enough for meetings, conventions or conferences.
The Canteen, inside the Poolaw Building, is open every day the Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Either before, during or after your experience at The National Museum of Military Vehicles, grab coffee, a snack, lunch or an amazingly delicious dessert at The Canteen, in our new Poolaw Building on campus. Even if you can't visit our world-class museum, our restaurant is perfect for tourists on the go, ready to continue their Wyoming adventure. Our burger selection is the best you'll find and our ice cream and milkshake bar is incredibly delicious! We're ready to serve you lunch or a snack while you are in the Dubois area!
OPEN: Wednesdays through Sundays
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CLOSED: Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Canteen (restaurant) hours:
11 a.m - 5 p.m. every day the Museum is open. NOTE: The Museum will be open every day (except July 4) beginning May 22, 2024.
Purchase tickets by clicking here.
Adults & Seniors: $20
Youth: 6-17: $12
Kids: 5 & Under: Free
U.S. Military Veterans/Active Duty: Free
