A visit to Aberdeen Ordnance Museum

[WWIIBuff]

Hi Guys,

This summer I'll be taking the family on a trip to New Jersey with a two day visit to Washington D.C. to check out the new WWII memorial. Since we'll be passing through Maryland I though it would be a good chance to stop and see the armor at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

I don't really know what to expect so can anyone give me an idea of how much time I should set aside to leasurely visit the museum? Also any recommendations on a nice place to stay overnight in the area?

Thanks
John Klein

[Richard W.]

Hello John-

I went last year, and I must warn you that the museum is located on the base and getting there is a serious PITA due to the security. It's been like that ever since 9/11. Go to the APG website at the following link and see the instructions for getting a special pass:

http://www.ordmusfound.org/

I see you're in California and I don't know if you guys have been affected by the War on Terror as much as we have on the East coast. If you haven't been to DC in the last 3 years, brace yourself. I went to the Air and Space Museum last month and had to take my belt off, watch, jacket, etc. Almost as bad as the airport.

Of course the APG museum is worth the effort, though, but more for the armor than the small arms museum. If you're a real armor buff, I'd set aside at least 3 hours and bring lots of film.

All of the armor is scatterred out in the field surrounding the museum, exposed to the elements as it's always been (for shame). You can walk up and around all of it. They have an ongoing drive to throw some kind of roof over top of them, and I hope the overpriced stuff in the gift shop is going towards that goal.

The small arms collection inside is a bit of a letdown. I suspect they keep the really interesting relics in storage, since they have only put representative pieces on display. There's one run-of-the-mill AK-47, one Garand, one M-16A1, etc., with nothing newer than the VN era. There's not even any AKM's or AK-74's, for pete's sake! Lots of stuff all jumbled together, with very amateurish placards complete with mis-identifications and typos.

If you're a History Channel fan, you might get a kick out passing Dr. William Atwater's office near the front door (the director of the museum). He's the guy you always see on Tales of the Gun, usually poking fun at the Chauchat machine gun.

It's a day trip for me, so I can't recommend lodging.

Have a nice trip-