Then we headed off to the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico. My family has gone several times, but I never was able to make any of those trips. I should have prioritized my time. What an amazing place.
When I walked in the very first thing I saw on the wall was this...
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I love helicopters. I always have. My dad loved airplanes and he took me and my brother to airports and airshows every chance he got. He loved the jets. I can not count the number of times I have seen the Blue Angles, good memories. Jets are awesome, but for me there is something about a helicopter. I can't get enough of that sound. I like them all, but my very favorite is the UH 1 Huey.
My favorite exhibit was the one depicting The Battle of Belleau Wood. The first part has a large map, but the map is digital. I can't quite describe the animation, but it was impressive how they were able to show the battle and how the advancing Marines didn't fair so well in that part of the battle. The next part has a large movie screen. I stood there watching the battle when all of a sudden I heard some kind of explosion and then a blast of air came over my body. It's to simulate the feeling of the blow back.
I highly recommend a trip to see what the Marines have been up to for the past 237 years and if you give me a call. I would gladly accompany you.
What an awesome trip, I am envious. My dad was stationed at Quantico three different times so I spent a lot of my childhood in the area. The last time I was able to visit was in 1985 and I don't think there was a museum then. If I ever get to come see you, I want to go.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Groundhog, I think the museum opened up in 2006. You come visit me and I will take you!!
DeleteI am VERY jealous (again!)!!! That sounds like an awesome museum! My fav helicopter has to be the Russian Mi-24 "Hind" gunship...that helicopter, even on the ground, just looks menacing. Its a hulking, brooding, bulging behemoth with but one purpose. And it knows it.
ReplyDeleteCheck out a book called "Devil Dogs" by George B. Clark. It follows the US Marines through WW1, and goes into detail on Bellau Wood. As for museums, there are some good ones here in the DFW area (the only flying B-29 in the word operates out of Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, if you ever get over thisaway. There's one in Oregon, about an hour south of Portland, that owns Howard Hugh's Spruce Goose, and Mrs.Alien found one down in San Diego (we're planning a vacation there in the next year or two) that has a couple of nice planes, as well.
Oh, and sniper-wise....Google Carlos Hathcock aka "Whitefeather".
DeleteThank you for sharing something you knew wouldf interest to me.
DeleteI know all about Mr. Hathcock. I have watched many a documentary and I have read quite a bit on him.
Fascinating man.
I have been seen the Spruce Goose many times in San Diego. Along with the Queen Mary...not really relevant, but...lol
ReplyDeleteHistory I have always loved and my family took us to many museums, art shows, arboretums...my very favorite place in the world is San Simeon. I have been to Hearst Castle a million times. Second favorite is Big Bear...not for the museums. I won a Tatoo contest there once:) although my tat is kind of historical.. An AT6 that says Women Can.
My iPad does all kinds of crazy things to my already bad editing...sorry:)
DeleteYep, Hearst Castle is cool and I miss the Blue Angels every year in San Francisco. But we're supposed to finally get them down here in February so it'll be the first time I've seen them in years.
DeleteWhat a great museum trip. And I have a penchant for commie guns as well. That's a nice pair in that pic, I hope to get an SKS sometime to add to the collection.
Great minds and all:)
DeleteMy daughter was just there with the NRA Y.E.S. program last week...she took lots of photos... I can't wait to go someday soon... She said the display mannequins were very lifelike...
ReplyDeleteI'm hopin' after I get back on my feet from this surgery to take the family to the Wright-Patt Air Force Museum as it's only 45 minutes away and we haven't been there for almost 10 years now...
Dann in Ohio
Dann, she is right. The attention to detail is amazing. They used real Marines as the models.
DeleteHope the recovery is gong well!
I had meetings in Reston on Monday and Tuesday Since I had to fly in on Sunday, I came in early specifically to see the NMCC. The museum is everything that you describe and more. The exhibits incorporate tools to engage all of your senses, and the historical artifacts and attention to detail are top notch. My visit review can be found here http://my-hallsofmontezuma.com/2012/07/04/national-museum-of-the-marine-corps/ if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteThe highlight of my visit though was the gentlemen who greeted me at the information desk, with his cover proudly proclaiming his experience as a veteran of Iwo Jima.
If you go to the NMCC, be amazed and wowed by the exhibits but take the time to talk to the guys on the floor. Ask them about their background, not just about the museum. You will be amazed and humbled to be in their presence.
Dang. An Iwo vet? What an honor to meet someone like that! I met a British gentleman who was volunteering at the Love Field air museum here in Dallas...not many actual airplanes, lots of static displays and models...and the vets. This guy was a Horsha glider pilot and told me a tale about his landing during the crossing of the Rhine...the smoke generators upriver were doing a bang-up job of covering the landing, except a slight shift in wind had caused them to cover the landing AREA. LOL So this guy was putting down blind, seat-of-the-pants in a flying cardboard box with no built-in ability to make an oopsy-go-around second attempt. So he puts down in the middle of his assigned field (he thought...said he still didn't know if it was where he was supposed to be or not, other than that he was on the ground and all of his cargo was in one piece)...as he was coming down, his first sight of the ground was that it was mostly clear...just a GI and two or three German prisoners with "the biggest dam eyes you've ever seen" staring at this huge beast looming out of the smoke at them. He put down, and eventually found out that the guys had hit the ground and he'd missed them by "a safety margin of at least several inches". LOL Man, that was a visit to remember!
DeleteThor, yes meeting the people is always the highlight of any thing I do. It's my favorite part of this blog and it's the favorite part of my job at the range. Unfortunately, I did not take advantage of that while I was at the museum. Next time.
DeleteI used to go hiking with a friend of my dad's who was a Marine veteran of WWII and Korea. He was in the south Pacific during WWII, and at Chosin while in Korea. He had some interesting stories when he was in the mood to talk about his experiences.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience. I love listening to people tell their stories.
DeleteI have never been! I would love a tour guide! Sounds awesome! It is sad that my Blog friends seem to put a siren song out for me to move North. I will settle for short vacations!
ReplyDeleteOh, if it matters I can reciprocate. If you get to Wilmington NC, I can run you and yours around on "The Showboat" BB-55, The USS North Carolina. WWII Battleship. First in the class of two before the Iowa class. She is beautiful. It is my home States Memorial to WWII Veterans. Very well done and they actually replaced the Teak decking on the main deck over the objections of the enviro weenies. Most of it was a gift from the Country of Myanmar.
USS North Carolina Web Site.
Keads, I will be your tour guide for the whole darn state if you want and I even have a comfy guest room:)
DeleteHelicopters don't really fly. The earth rejects them. :D
ReplyDeleteMany a Marine and soldier alike would share your feelings of the UH-1E.