MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Fort Belvoir, Virginia | Opening Veterans Day 2020
A guide to the region’s newest museum, chronicling 245 years of histor y
The day, and the facility, both honor those who ser ved BY PAUL LARA
info@insidenova.com
T
he long-awaited opening of the newest museum in the National Capital Region is upon us. The National Museum of the United States Army opens on Veterans Day, about five months later than anticipated, due to the pandemic that delayed finalizing construction on the impressive facility. As Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor those who serve, the museum serves as a reflective monument on a hill that will tell the story of 245 years of Army history. Because people are the centerpiece of the Army, the museum brings to life that history in times of war and peace as told through the eyes of soldiers. The
museum also offers educational experiences illustrating the Army’s role in building and defending our nation, as well as Army humanitarian missions and technological and medical breakthroughs built on Army ingenuity. The museum is a joint effort between the U.S. Army and the Army Historical Foundation, which is leading a $200 million capital campaign to fund its construction. The Army provided the land, as well as $230 million toward site preparation, infrastructure, exhibits and interior work. The construction and maintenance of a national museum of this scale was and is a massive undertaking. The Army designated the foundation as the official fundraiser to support the building’s construction on
federal land. A combination of foundation and museum contracts brought the museum to life. Construction of the 185,000-square-foot facility began in 2017. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coordinated site preparation, built the roads, and installed utilities. In total, over 30 different organizations brought their expertise to this important project. The U.S. Army now owns and operates the museum. The foundation will continue its fundraising role in support of museum operations and will manage all retail, catering and special events services. Located on Fort Belvoir off Fairfax County Parkway, the museum is accessible to everyone, and, while admission is free, timed tickets must be obtained online.
The museum’s architects created aspects in the central entry, such as the Army emblem on the floor and the black granite wall recording every campaign in the Army’s history, to provide a personal connection to service members. PROVIDED
Museum’s design combines personal experience, Army values BY DAVID FAWCETT
dfawcett@insidenova.com
I
n designing the National Museum of the United States Army, architects Colin Koop and Kristopher Takács wanted something that worked on many levels. Koop, design partner for the architecture firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and Takács, the design director on the project, sought to embody the Army’s values, while also allowing visi-
tors and military personnel to experience the Army through the years in a personal way. Koop and Takács believe the Fort Belvoir-based museum will accomplish those objectives when it opens Nov. 11. “It’s such a privilege to be part of a team that is delivering a national museum, and a rare honor to contribute to the civic and cultural landscape that unites us as Americans,” Takács said. SOM was chosen as the design ar-
chitect in September 2008. The project broke ground in September 2016, with plans to open on June 4, 2020. But the coronavirus pushed back the opening to Veterans Day. “We’ve spent a lot of time visualizing what this would look like,” Koop said. “But nothing matches when human beings visit. It’s exciting. I can’t wait for it.” The museum originally was planned to be built near where Belvoir’s hospital is currently located. Although its new
location is farther from the center of the installation, the 84-acre site is more aesthetically pleasing, Koop said. The elevated position combines open hilltops and wooded escarpments overlooking a valley. Koop said the result, which SOM talked at length with the Army about, accomplished two design goals: “Connecting the building with the land, and ARCHITECTURE
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Visit HyltonCenter.org for more information. Visit HyltonCenter.org for more information. Visit HyltonCenter.org for more information.
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ARMY MUSEUM
MUSEUM DETAILS
The museum sits atop a hill on an 84-acre site on a publicly accessible area of Fort Belvoir. ARCHITECTURE
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visually embodying the Army’s mission of safeguarding the nation. … The feeling that the idea of the citadel evokes – of confidence and strength – is core to the museum’s architectural identity.” The museum’s interior is centered around five pavilions that include exhibits and can host special events. The key feature, Koop said, is the central entry, something Army personnel can recognize immediately to help them feel right at home. “We didn’t just want to put plaques on a wall. We wanted to create an integrated
piece of architecture that is itself a work of art,” Koop said. “The ceiling of that space, along with its lighting, create a glowing, luminous surface above, with colors that match historic campaign streamers.” Koop added that other aspects in the central entry, like the Army emblem on the floor and the black granite wall recording every campaign in the Army’s history, are essential to providing a personal connection. SOM has a long history of designing buildings for the military, including the Air Force Academy and the recently completed center for cybersecurity at the United States Naval Academy.
LOCATION: 1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, Va., 22060 OPENING DATE: Wednesday, November 11. HOURS: The Museum will be open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., except Dec. 25. TICKETS: Tickets are free, but must be obtained in advance at www.thenmusa.org. Limit of five tickets per request. Only timed, advance tickets are accepted. No walk-up entry is allowed. COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: In addition to requiring advanced tickets, masks must be worn inside the museum and social distancing guidelines must be followed. PARKING & TRANSPORTATION: Parking is free with dedicated spaces for buses and oversized vehicles. The Fairfax County Connector bus route 334 includes a stop at the Museum. FACTS AND FIGURES: • Design Site Area: 84 acres • Indoor space: 185,000 square feet, five stories. • Building Height: 100 feet • Number of Galleries: 11 • Number of Artifacts: 1,389 (19 macro-artifacts, 1,370 micro-artifacts) • Number of Cast Figures: 70
The National Museum of the United States Army is another opportunity for SOM and the military to create a shared vision. “Collaboration between the U.S. Army, the Army Historical Foundation, the Army Corps of Engineers and
many talented and dedicated design, engineering and construction professionals is what made this project possible,” Takács said. “We couldn’t have asked for better teamwork, and the result of that effort is evident in the building’s execution.”
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The “Huey” was the iconic helicopter of the Vietnam War. HU-1 helicopters arrived in Vietnam in 1962 as aerial ambulances. The designation was later changed to UH-1, for utility helicopters, but the nickname remained. PROVIDED
Construction crews lower a Bradley Fighting Vehicle into the foundation of the National Museum of the United States Army on Fort Belvoir in 2017, before the walls were erected. This spot marks the Changing World Gallery. PAUL LARA | INSIDENOVA
The M4 Sherman tank was the iconic American tank of World War II and was employed in all theaters of operation. PAUL LARA | INSIDENOVA
Fighting for the nation: the major galleries in the Army Museum
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long the Army Concourse, visitors will find the major galleries, in a chronological telling of the Army story. Founding the Nation Gallery: This covers the Army’s history from the colonial period through the War of 1812. Visitors explore the origins and formation of the Continental Army, its role in the Revolutionary War, and the Army’s development as a professional force. Preserving the Nation Gallery: Visitors get an understanding of the Army’s part in the defining American event of the 19th century, the Civil War. This gallery also documents the Army’s role in westward expansion. Nation Oversees Gallery: This gallery explores the Army’s first venture onto the world stage, including operations in China and the Spanish-American War, as well as the Army’s role in World War I and the changing face of warfare. Global War Gallery: The Army’s role in the Allied victory during World War II is portrayed in this gallery. Visitors learn about both the European and Pacific theaters, the technology of the conflict, the Army’s air war, and the development of the atomic bomb. Cold War Gallery: Suspended from the gallery’s ceiling is the iconic UH-1B “Huey” Helicopter. Changing World Gallery: This chronicles one of the most dynamic and
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global periods in U.S. Army history, from the fall of the Soviet Union through the nation’s most current conflicts. The Global War on Terror portion follows the progression of operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to the principal galleries, additional exhibitions augment the timeline or explore a particular aspect of Army life. Army and Society Gallery: The Army and Society Gallery examines the relationship between the Army and the American people. Medal of Honor Experience: The Medal of Honor Experience, on the museum’s third floor, invites visitors to explore the history of the Medal of Honor and learn about the award recommendation process and hierarchy of Army awards that recognize heroic actions. Special Exhibit Gallery – The Art of Soldiering: In the museum’s rotating exhibit space, the first exhibit, “The Art of Soldiering,” showcases highlights from the U.S. Army’s massive art collection. Special Exhibit Gallery – The Nisei Soldier Experience: The museum has dedicated the first temporary exhibit to showcasing an unprecedented collection of Japanese-American artifacts that capture the rarely told story of the Japanese-American Nisei Soldier during World War II. -- Compiled by Paul Lara ARMY MUSEUM
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A sneak peek: Army histor y comes to life BY PAUL LARA
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fter decades of planning, the story of the people behind the United States Army is about to come to life in a way that will appeal to soldiers and civilians, young and old. I recently had the privilege to enjoy a preview of the galleries, and I was impressed with how the experience begins before you ever arrive at the door. After I turned from Fairfax County Parkway onto Liberty Drive, the clean, cubed, stainless steel structure glistened through the trees as I drove up the hill to the spacious parking lot. An open meadow extends to the north, and the museum, clad in more than 30,000 square feet of stainless steel panels, smoothly reflects the sky and surrounding trees as the building rises from a plateau. The promenade that leads visitors from the parking area to the museum’s entrance includes the Path of Remembrance, with about 8,000 commemorative black granite bricks sponsored by supporters of the museum. The bricks are adorned with personalized tributes to soldiers, Army families, Department of Army civilians, and museum and Army supporters. Also running along the Path of Remembrance are Unit Tributes — 12-by-18-inch plaques honoring indi-
The Soldiers’ Story Gallery personalizes acts of heroism and honor throughout the Army’s history, and is a transition from the lobby to the major galleries. PAUL LARA | INSIDENOVA
vidual Army units throughout history. Approaching the entrance, I was flanked by high steel walls, and ahead was the glass-enclosed lobby, which is bright and massive. Light floods in from the coffered ceiling above, and each column has repeating streamers with the colors of each of the Army’s major campaigns. Straight ahead sits a massive, smooth, THE EXPERIENCE
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ARMY MUSEUM
Blackedout ceilings throughout the major galleries help to highlight the exhibits. PAUL LARA | INSIDENOVA
THE EXPERIENCE
FROM PAGE 6
black marble monolithic wall – a Wall of Honor. Engraved in the wall is a chronological list of the Army’s battles. As a silent reminder of the commitment to the future, there is additional space along the bottom for battles yet to come. That black wall motif is repeated upstairs in the Medal of Honor Garden, looking north toward the meadow and tree line. The name of every Army recipient of the Medal of Honor is engraved in this silent outdoor space. Leading as a transition from the bright lobby is the Soldiers’ Stories Gallery, which stretches toward the Army Concourse, with 41 stainless steel pylons in tight formation. Each pylon is etched with an image of a soldier’s face and accompanying biography, across all periods of the Army’s history. In the background is a wall with the text of the Soldier’s Creed. I knew I had to return later, when I have enough time to read some of these stories of heroism and purpose.
The Army Theater gives visitors a high-tech, immersive introduction to the U.S. Army and to the Museum. PROVIDED
The large, curved Army Concourse connects the six major galleries, and there is a distinct change in ambience and lighting. Leaving behind the bright lobby, the lighting is specific and quite moody, with black-out ceilings and lights only striking the artifacts.
I was impressed with how life-like each of the figures in the galleries seemed. The amount of care taken in their creation was revealed when a museum staffer told me that the face of every character was modeled after a real soldier. Groups of soldiers presented riveting moments, with gazes
passed among each other, and focused on the mission at hand. Additionally, it seems every available surface is used to reinforce the story. Many surfaces have videos or text to amplify the mood or explain the context of the moment. The experience and emotions of a soldier’s life are highlighted through compelling technology, including The Army Theater. The theater provides an immersive introduction to the U.S. Army and to the museum, including footage of soldiers and current Army operations, along with re-creations of some of the Army’s most significant battles spanning a 300-degree screen. Soldiers’ stories have been passed down in families and even carefully documented for posterity, and at long last, the public will have a chance to see the sweeping impact that they have had on our nation, on society, and on the world at large. This seems poised to be a major museum stop in the Washington region.
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ARMY MUSEUM