Tank It Up At The Texas Military Forces Museum

Driving South on MOPAC 1 in Austin, Texas it’s hard not to notice when you are passing Camp Mabry.  Vintage helicopters and jet planes hoisted high on supports line a walking track circling a century old drill field.  You can’t miss the old Austin stone warehouses that are as orderly and functional as when they were built over 100 years ago.

Still an active military base, the camp is not only home to the Texas Military Forces (Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard and Texas State Guard) but also the Texas Military Forces Museum.

The Museum is a treat!  I’ve brought my grandchildren here several times.  Entry to the camp, and thus the museum, is via a guarded gate where you’ll have to present a photo ID.  

A short drive beyond the gate delivers you to a 45,000-square foot old warehouse building with a wooden double door entry.  Using space made available by the camp the museum offers a representation of uniforms, photographs, army tanks, military vehicles, artillery, ground weapons, helicopters, and jet fighters used by Texas soldiers in the fight for freedom.

The Texas Military Forces Museum explores the history of the Lone Star State’s militia and volunteer forces from 1823 (date of the first militia muster in Stephen F. Austin’s colony) to 1903 when the Congress created the National Guard. From 1903 to the present the museum tells the story of the Texas Army and Air National Guard, as well as the Texas State Guard, in both peacetime and wartime.

Permanent exhibits utilize uniforms, weapons, equipment, personal items, film, music, photographs, battle dioramas and realistic full-scale environments to tell the story of the Texas Military Forces in the Texas Revolution, the Texas Navy, the Texas Republic, the Mexican War, the Battles along the Indian Frontier, the War between the States, the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, Peace Keeping Deployments and the Global War on Terror.

Living history programs, battle reenactments and other special events take place throughout the year. Admission to the museum is always FREE.

HOURS:
Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
Office staff is available Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm.

Driving Directions to the museum:

The Texas Military Forces Museum is located in Building 6 on Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. The street address of Camp Mabry is 2200 West 35th Street. The mailing address is P.O. Box 5218, Austin, TX 78763. The former entrance to the post was blocked in 2001, the current entrance is on Maintenance Drive.

From the MOPAC Expressway (aka, Loop 1).

1. Exit the MOPAC Expressway at 35th Street.
2. Drive west 6/10ths of a mile past the old main gate, which is now barricaded, and go through the light at Exposition, and down a steep hill.
3. At the bottom of the hill, just before a flashing traffic signal, you will see the gated entrance of Camp Mabry to your right (i.e., Maintenance Drive).
4. After passing through security, go straight to the stop sign and turn right.
5. At the next stop sign, turn right again.
6. Follow General Mabry Boulevard past the running track on your left.
7. Building 6 will be on your right, next to an outdoor display of tanks and military vehicles.
8. The main entrance for the Museum is the large white double doors at the center of the building.

From IH-35.

1. Make certain you are on the lower level of the Interstate.
2. Take the 38½ Street exit going west. Note that as it proceeds westward, 38½ Street becomes 35th Street.
3. After crossing over Loop 1, follow the instructions above.

From the Airport.

1. Take Highway 71 West to Highway 360 North
2. Highway 360 North to Loop 1 North.
3. Travel five (5) miles on Loop 1 to 35th Street.
4. Follow the instructions above from that point.

GPS Address 3038  W 35th St. Austin, Tx 78703

At the current time, the post is open to the public during daylight hours without prior arrangements. The security guards, however, may require you to present some form of valid state or federal identification and to consent to a search of the vehicle.