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Carlisle, PA will never be APG, but it's in a new building, except, of course the displays which are outside. I did hear that a M3 Bradley IFV joined the collection last July, reason enough for me to revisit.
I'm still open to hit Ft. Dix, NJ as long as they have some displays (Did anyone hear otherwise?) this year. I'm also going to try the Boalsburg, PA Museum, and 1-2 places on way there (we'll see) or back. Rick

PS: Piney, don't forget my collection of APG and other items about same time you were at Aberdeen (1979 - Current) for a "virtual" APG.

Rick, unless they have changed policy when I wasn't looking Dix (Now MDL superbase) was, and stil is, closed to the public after the attempted terror attack except for the yearly airshow at Maguire. I do know they have some exhibits, but I'm not sure how you can get to them

Piney, I still may check out if Dix is worth trip. I generally don't go out of my way to visit air shows/Museums even though I hit Dover, DE (just up Rt 1 from here) a few years ago. Rick

PS: They have a nice display!

Rick -

I suggest you contact the folks at the Ft Dix museum directly about visiting. Getting on base for us in March of 2012 required a stop at the visitor's center and a rather intensive process and it was a BIG help that the museum staff was expecting us. Lots of cool stuff to see so it is worth it.

Shameless Ft Dix Gallery Link:
www.vgbimages.com/AFV-...771_ZTFBmp

Paul and Loren,
Thanks for the tips and sharing great Ft Dix photos. I'm going to try to coordinate with them on a trip and escort (if needed) to photograph the outside displays there. I've only 2 weeks vacation, and plan on going to Wife's destination on one week. Will see what they have. Rick

Hi Everyone.

One thing to keep in mind is the staffs at the US Army museums have been cut way back.

The one here at Ft. Bliss had a staff of 8. Director, 2 support personal, and 5 curators. They are down to the 2 support (admin and diorama builder) and 1 curator. The 1th Cav Div museum at Ft. Hood is down to ONE person.

Spot report!
Sgt, Scouts out!

P.S.
It is my feeling that the CMH is slowing destroying the Army museum system.

I have an idea, why not give everything to the Brits, French or Russians, they seem to know how to operate a tank museum or a artillery museum.

- armyjunk2

I have an idea, why not give everything to the Brits, French or Russians, they seem to know how to operate a tank museum or a artillery museum.

the artillery museum in Fort Sill is a very nice one.. and don"t forget that in France there is a lot of stuff stored in the open air at the Saumur Tank Museum !! and they don't have too much money

P-O

Fort Sill has done a great Job.........

You might also want to poll people about the advisability of re-funding collections that they'd already contributed to only to see them moved serendipitously to a new, unfunded and unestablished location...that now solicits donations for uncertain "new" exhibits.

Most of the folks that I have seen at Aberdeen in the past have been of the casual tourist type, not of the armor enthusiast mold.

Push comes to shove, if we (the specialist community) want these things to stay around in the days of cutbacks and BRAC actions, we're going to have to pony up the funds. We do a couple of C note donations a year, but they are spread out across all of the museums (the National Guard museum in New Orleans got my share this year), rather than all to any one favorite.

As for Dawn/Tony Orlando, I'm afraid the reference went way over my head. I'm not surprised...

- TerryStibal

You might also want to poll people about the advisability of re-funding collections that they'd already contributed to only to see them moved serendipitously to a new, unfunded and unestablished location...that now solicits donations for uncertain "new" exhibits.

As for Dawn/Tony Orlando, I'm afraid the reference went way over my head. I'm not surprised...

Friendly joke about the hair and the '70 's pr0n moustache. Probably an age gap misunderstanding... Orlando was a singer, "Dawn" was his backup singer babeage.

userserve-ak.last.fm/s.../17040.jpg

I have "Given" donations to some places,

Although my motives were two fold, primary was to kind of influence the person in charge to allow me access to vehicles normally not open to the public. Other times was in appreciation for getting such access. Either way if I'm allowed this access I always give something, not chump change either, minimum a "C" note. The caveat is I know it will be put to direct use to preserving Armor instead of a "General" fund that is spent on things that don't preserve them. Just absolutely sickens me that both Aberdeen and Knox's collections along with their archives are now unavailable for public access and will be for the rest of my life it seems. The real danger is the longer they go "Tucked Away" the greater the chance of them being irrelevant to future generations. Then one day someone will realize the loss and will have to scrape together whatever survived and lament how a Nation so rich allowed this history to decay and disappear. Don't think some "Unscrupulous" individuals wouldn't be tempted to "Liberate" items and Documents while in storage, History has seen this before. I truly hope I am wrong. But in the meantime I have no plans to leave my collection of TM's and photos to any Government run establishment based on what I've seen lately, unless (Shames me to say this) it's another Country that actually would appreciate it or a private institution that has an actual trust that is adhered to. As minor but unique the collection may be I still would hate for it to be tossed in a recycling bin or trash, best case broken up and sold on eBay (Most likely what will happen).

Hoping things change and keeping my fingers crossed.

It's the contrast between the army's & airforce's policies that get me.

- Pzkpfw-e

It's the contrast between the army's & airforce's policies that get me.

It's the same in Italy, the Air Force takes care of its museum and, among other things, recovered the IMAN Ro 37 wrecks from Kabul, the Army never recovered any of the many L3s tankettes from there, even if that model is missing from its museum collection.

Both Vigna di Valle and Cecchignola suffers from low budgets, but the two services have a striking different policy whenever it came to preserving their history.

Massimo

Hi all. I've seen why APG does not have the Col. Jarrett collection in it (for those unfamiliar with him, he was APG curator long ago) but rather Carlisle, PA has it. Same goes for Gen. Crittenberger, Gen. Almond, etc. They knew years ago that APG, Knox, etc. were not places to put a collection of photos, film, and documents for history buffs. I hope that Carlisle is the place to go, as I'm considering depositing my stuff there, and I'm watching them closely. They currently have Civil War photos there and take care of them.
Another alternative would be to find a younger person pass items along to. Good luck here. I have 2 Daughters and a Stepdaughter, none interested in my hobby.
As for "Tony Orlando" reference, did get it, chose to ignore, as was me 30 years ago. Could not stand his "music".
Joe D, try to find young donor, or institution of choice. Not all government agencies CMH related, maybe a regular library will do? As far as APG or Knox being "tucked away" only if we allow! I used to try researching the APG collection in that small room there, always was told same "Not for the Public". Eventually, that "curator" was removed and the "public" was allowed access (after all, we all pay taxes) of course all was before 911 and BRAC. Rick