History & Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Museum of the American G.I is a living history museum dedicated to preserving the equipment, uniforms and memories of the American Serviceman and Servicewoman. Our aim is to promote the knowledge and appreciation of the US Military and the men and women who served our country. We restore and maintain to the original operating conditions the equipment that was used so the public can hear and see the equipment move under its own power. We record and display the memories and uniforms of the servicemen and women as a testament and memorial to the sacrifice of these brave individuals.

History

In February 2001 Brent Mullins, his wife Leisha, and fellow military enthusiast Emmett Fox formed the Museum of the American G.I., Inc. Vietnam Veteran, Steve Hickman joined the board in 2002. The following year the museum purchased 40 acres in south College Station for the sole purpose of developing a living history museum dedicated to preserving the uniforms, equipment, and memories of the American Serviceman and woman. The Museum of the American G.I. is debt free because over the years, the Board of Directors has diligently protected the financial structure of the museum through sacrifice.

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On display at the museum is one of the finest collections in the US of restored, running WWII and later era military vehicles including WWII Sherman tanks, M18 Hellcats and Vietnam-era Patrol Boat. But what really makes this museum unique is its ability to exhibit the vehicles and weapons in action. The museum hosts annual events, History in Motion and the Living History Weekend, for the public to experience the rumble of tanks and whine of engines, and observe everything from small arm’s fire up to the blasts of tank and artillery cannons.

The Museum is also honored to be the home of the Texas Vietnam Heroes Exhibit. The award-winning exhibit features 3,417 personalized dog tags honoring Texans killed or missing in the Vietnam War. The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Committee created the exhibit through a gift from the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation and donated to the Museum of the American G.I. in April 2015. Every Memorial Day weekend, the museum remembers those from the Brazos Valley, Texas A&M, and the nation who have lost their lives in service to our country with a 21-gun Howitzer salute.

While the Museum of the American G.I. is often thought of as the “tank” museum, the museum also has an impressive collection of rare and significant military uniforms, propaganda posters, and memorabilia. The only other places to see many museum collection items are the “national” or specialty museums. For example, on display at the museum is an original door from the Hỏa Lò or Hanoi Hilton Prison, which housed American POWs during the Vietnam War.

We are constantly growing and improving. In 2023, the museum acquired a C47 and additional tanks for display. All of which will soon be displayed outside the museum. Likewise, the museum will soon begin a capital campaign to fund the construction of a motor pool building that will provide additional banquet and display space and much-needed additional small item collection storage.

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