National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, Columbus, Georgia.

It is the only interactive Army Museum in the U.S.

Courage. Sacrifice. Honor. These have been the watchwords of the infantry throughout America’s history. Soldiers’ weapons have changed from muzzle-loading muskets to automatic rifles, but from Bunker Hill to Baghdad, whenever the nation has been threatened the infantry has answered the call. In March 2009, the "grunt," the "doughboy," the "dogface" finally gets a museum to honor the sacrifices made in mud and snow and sand . . . and blood.

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What follows is a media release sent to Armchair General by the museum.

Imagine waking to the sound of 155 mm Howitzers before dawn . . . digging a foxhole to sleep in . . . being wounded in hand-to-hand combat . . . moving through rough terrain to perform perilous reconnaissance missions. Imagine giving years of your life in service for your country . . . Now imagine giving up your life for your country. This is the everyday experience of the United States Army Infantryman.

For centuries, the Infantryman has paid the price for American freedom, yet his valor and sacrifice have gone largely unrecognized. For example, it is not widely known that . . .

• Approximately 80 percent of the U.S. armed forces war dead are represented by the Infantry.
• Infantrymen have earned more than half the 3,467 Medals of Honor awarded.
• No war in the history of the world has been won without Infantry.

Now the Infantryman’s stories of courage, sacrifice and honor have found a home at the new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Patriot Park in Columbus, GA. Opening in March 2009, this is the first world-class site to pay tribute to the U.S. Army Infantryman and those who fight alongside him. No other museum in the country focuses on military history from the perspective of the Infantry.

The new National Infantry Museum takes visitors on an immersive, interactive journey—as experienced by the Infantryman—through every war fought by the U.S. over the past two centuries—from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. An easy 90-minute drive from Atlanta, the new National Infantry Museum is a must-see attraction for freedom-loving people around the world. It is the only interactive Army Museum in the U.S. and it engages visitors in the unique experiences of the Infantry Soldier with features such as . . .

• A museum collection, valued at over $30 million, featuring Hermann Goering’s actual Field Marshal baton; a POW coat and trousers from the Gulf War; actual MIA/KIA telegrams; a Civil War battle drum and more.
• Galleries chock full of engaging exhibits with themes highlighting Infantry experiences in military training, Medal of Honor recipients, the OCS training experience, the contributions of Rangers and more.
• 300-seat IMAX Theater bringing giant screen movies to the Columbus, GA region for the first time.
• Educational exhibits such as “The Last 100 Yards,” which highlights eight defining battles from the 233-year history of the Infantry.
• The “Fort Benning Gallery,” which includes the history of the post, its schools, training and the transformation of men into Soldiers, and a firing range simulator.

The 200-acre museum site is adjacent to historic Fort Benning, known as the “Home of the Infantry.” The famed United States Army Infantry School was established at Fort Benning and, through the years, this institution emerged as the most influential Infantry center in the modern world. The complex also includes the parade field, memorial walk of honor, an authentic World War II Company Street and other attractions.

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