Happy New year! We had a Great 2025, Help us in 2026!

Jimmy Kilbourne

2025 SUCCESSES

  • Largest Visitor Count since 2015. 1/3 of guests stop due to Virginia’s Integrated Directional Signing Program on Interstate 81
  • Increased Bus Tour Groups. International guests from as far away as Australia and United Kingdom, USA guests from all corners, Washington, Maine, Florida, etc.
  • Free Museum Admission for Youth and Students, Adults donate, but not required
  • Free evening history education programs and events for all and about all Citizen Soldiers and their contributions abroad and at home
  • Free Facility use for Community Civics Groups and Veteran Organizations
  • College Intern Credits for JMU History Major students. Have served Radford U. and others in the past
  • History Tours to American Battlefields, Monuments and Cemeteries in France
  • Host Veteran and Member Reunion for 116th Regiment and 116th Brigade Combat Team Members and Families
  • Completed “dry-in” Phase I of a WWI Log Cabin restoration that will house the new The Mid-Atlantic WWI Center

Help us keep the momentum going with a contribution to support our 2026 Program Year! Please Share this exciting news and photo below!

Why Study History?

Stefan Hartman

Spanish philosopher George Santayand said “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”  In other words, we need to understand our history to avoid past mistakes.  What happened and why?  What worked?  What didn’t?

Can we learn from failures and triumphs?  Is there solace in knowing that others have been here too?  What can we learn about ourselves?  Where are we going?  Can we avoid some pot holes and ditches, or must we fall into them over and over?  What facts matter and which are “so what?”

In other words, how has our past shaped our future?  Only history can tell us.

Nonprofits need People Too!

Nonprofits need People Too!

Jimmy Kilbourne

We are excited that we have endless opportunities in our future to remember and share with the world the stories of our Citizen Soldiers and their contributions on our behalf. The education programs and events, websites, facilities, utilities, insurance and minimum staff, etc. required to make it all happen do have a real cost; but funding is not the only thing, and not always the most important resource, required to give life to our efforts.

People! We always need people in the form of volunteers to make it work! Since we have so many different programs and projects happening there is a place for anyone to help, don’t sell yourself short.

We need champions and advocates: Go tell your community, clubs and friends about who we are and what we do. Invite them to visit us or attend an event and send their friends too. Help spread the word and connect us with more people and those who may want to support us.

We need Historians and Educators for programs and events: Maybe you can give a lecture one evening? Maybe you are an educator who can connect us to schools or help build our school programs? Consider serving on our education team.

We need help in the Museum: We are always looking for folks who can open and close the Museum one (or more) day(s) a month, usually a Friday or Saturday. We provide all the training you may need, its low stress, easy to learn, fun, and you meet a lot of great people who visit the Museum.

We need help with Collections, Archives and Library: Maybe you fit here? We need help sorting, labeling, cataloging and storing the artifacts, documents and books that get donated every week it seems. We can use you for any time you can give and we will show you how it all works!

We need handy-men help: Building exhibits, remodeling galleries, repairing the facility, keeping things clean and running with general maintenance might be your fit. We can use you!

Contact us and we will figure out how we can use your time, talent and support where you would fit best!

The Major of St. Lo

The Major of St. Lo

Jimmy Kilbourne

So, just how big a deal was The Major of St. Lo story? Our History Major Interns from James Madison University are helping us sort, catalog and properly store some of our document collections from General Gerhardt, Heirome and Evarts Opie (each a General), D-Day Engineer unit reports for example, and the papers of Major Thomas D. Howie. Given by his Daughter Sally, they include photos, articles, personal letters, V-Mail, etc. And, this gem. An August 1963 national publication comic book with the story of The Major of St. Lo! That’s how big a deal!