Com-Central.net

Stay tuned for information. I've been meaning to call up there and get and update. I will see if I can make contact today.

Why was I thinking that non-US citizens could not get to the museum - or has that policy changed?

Regards,
David Doyle

I've taken a Canadian friend there several times - just need to make sure you have your passport.

Neil

Hmm that link isnt working for me. well im going to give it a try anyway. sounds like it should be open on the friday i will be passing thru that area so thats good to know

cheers
dan

- nexus6

Hmm that link isnt working for me.
dan

Not working for me, either.

According to my changedetection.com log of the site, the current open times are:

Monday 12-4pm

Tuesday- Friday 10am-4pm

Saturday 9am-3pm

Neil

thanks for posting those times

I finally got to talk with Ed Heasly the cuartor at the Museum.

1) the Ordnance Museum website is down right now. It is being reworked.

2) They are Open weekdays and Saturdays. The problem is staffing and will probably continue this way for a while

3) Access for Foreign Nationals - There have been no recent changes. With Passport there should be no problem for most foreign visitors.

4) There have been no more transfers of equipment since last fall.

5) Dr Ranier is no longer the director. He is now Command Historian for TRADOC at Ft Monroe.

Nexus6 check your PMs. I would be glad to try and meet you at Aberdeen to show you around. Some of the interesting stuff is at semirandom locations around the base and I would hate to have you miss it. A friday could work for me so get in touch!!

Oh also The M12 is slated to go to Ft Sill, I don't have a time frame yet

Bob,
Is there a new director? Or is Ed the interim? Another one on the way?

Feel free to PM or e-mail me...

I'd love to go, but a Friday is very unlikely for me...

Neil

- bsmart

Oh also The M12 is slated to go to Ft Sill, I don't have a time frame yet

Home of field artillery. Our M40 is going there also.

FYI, I asked the Fort Lee BRAC office facebook page about the status of the new museum and got the following response:

"From the BRAC Office - Neil - We are planning on building an Ordnance Climate Controlled Artifact Storage Facility here on Ft. Lee. Construction on this facility is contingent upon the ANTICIPATED release of funding in FY11. If funding is received as anticipated, target construction contract award date is Mar 11 with completion approximately 18-24 months later. The planned storage facility will preserve approximately 180 historic tanks and artillery pieces, which will be used in Soldier training and instruction in military history."

Note: Dont worry about the "Ordnance Climate Controlled Artifact Storage Facility," that's BRAC-code for a "museum," since Military Construction funds cant be used to pay for a "museum."

Other than that, this confirms that museum construction & opening has been delayed 6+ months (from the October 2010 start date stated in some articles). I suspected not enough was happening for the start of construction in just 7 months from now... Oh yeah, and it wont be finished until the end of 2012 / beginning of 2013 - not 2011 as originally stated.

Neil

And the artifacts that were rushed down there sit where no one is supposed to have access to them And some were actually stored inside at Aberdeen

"Planning" (2x)..."contingent"..."anticipated" (2x)..."target"..."approximate" (2x)...

I'm not holding my breath.

Chuck

FWIW,
The FY11 Defense Budget request includes $30 million for a "Museum Operations Support Building" at Fort Lee.

See page 157 comptroller.defense.go...011_c1.pdf

Neil

BTW, I dug into the Army budget justification documents and found the following for this MILCON request:

asafm.army.mil/Documen...fh-hoa.pdf
Page 557-558

"Description of Proposed Construction Construct a Museum Operations Support (Artifact Storage) Facility. Project will include open high-bay artifact storage space, offices, classrooms, latrines, arms room, consolidated entry and reception area; connection to Energy Monitor and Control System (EMCS) and installatiion [sic] of intrusion detection system (IDS). Supporting utilities include electrical, gas, water and sewer, communication, exterior lighting, storm drainage, fire protection, access roads, walks, curbs and gutters, parking, and site improvements. Access for persons with disabilities will be provided. Antiterrorism measures will be incorporated into the facility design. Comprehensive building and furnishings related interior design services are required. Sustainable Design and Development (SDD) and Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05) features will be provided. Air Conditioning (Estimated 1,407 kWr/400 Tons).
_____________________________________________________________

"11. REQ: 12,141 m2

"PROJECT: Contruct [sic] a Museum Operations Support Building at Fort Lee, VA.

"REQUIREMENT: This facility is required to house historical property that is used for Soldier training to meet the Program of Instruction (POI) and related instructional requirements associated with the Ordnance School. It directly supports relocating unit initiatives providing indoor, environmentally controlled display/storage space for decommissioned large, historic, military weapons.

"12. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
A. Estimated Design Data:
(1) Status:
( a ) Date Design Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APR 2008
( b ) Percent Complete As Of January 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.00
( c ) Date 35% Designed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAR 2011
( d ) Date Design Complete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAY 2011
( e ) Parametric Cost Estimating Used to Develop Costs YES
(f) Type of Design Contract: Design-build
(2) Basis:
(a) Standard or Definitive Design: NO
(3) Total Design Cost (c) = (a)+(b) OR (d)+(e): ($000)
( a ) Production of Plans and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . 709
( b ) All Other Design Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
( c ) Total Design Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,134
( d ) Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 709
( e ) In - house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425

"12. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: ( C o n t i n u e d )
A. Estimated Design Data: (Continued)
( 4 ) Construction Contract Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JAN 2011
( 5 ) Construction Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAR 2011
( 6 ) Construction Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAR 2012"

You can find similar information for "Museum Operations Support Building"s at Fort Benning (Armor & Cavalry Museum presumably) on page 115, and Fort Still (new ADA Museum?) on page 423.

Neil