Open Call: Delaware Military Museum offers history, art, education & more

Brig. Gen. Kennard R. Wiggins, Jr.
·4 min read
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Where else could you sit in a jet fighter ejector seat, view a Charles Parks sculpture of our women aviators from World War II, and gaze upon a Jamie Wyeth watercolor of Vietnam?

Where else can you find an Afghan burka, grass skirts from the Pacific War, and a German World War I machine gun? Who else has a complete set of paintings of all seven USS Delawares?

The Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation is located at the Delaware National Guard Wilmington Readiness Center (also home to the Mid-County Senior Center). They established the Delaware Military Museum, which opened its doors in 2017 at First Regiment Road, Wilmington 19808.

The Delaware Military Museum

The Delaware Military Museum houses a 5000-volume library of military history, an archive of about 20,000 documents and photographs, a collection of over 300 uniforms, as well as hundreds of military artifacts donated and collected over the years. It is manned and managed by an all-volunteer staff.

The museum has a series of themed exhibits in nine galleries.

The first exhibit's theme is Delaware’s role in World War I and was built in the centennial year of 2017. This was followed by various additional themed galleries:

  • Delaware’s Colonial Era Militia and the Revolutionary War

  • War of 1812, the Barbary Pirates and Quasi-War with France

  • Delaware’s role in World War

  • Delawareans in Vietnam

  • The Korean War

  • The Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars

  • A Kiddie Corner room where children can “please touch”

There are also themed exhibits on:

Educational programs

The Foundation is responsible for a number of educational programs. Over the years we have conducted many outreach programs including: Leadership programs for scouts, JROTC, and other youth groups., and outreach programs in cooperation with other organizations such as the annual “Wings and Wheels” at Georgetown Airport, Fort Miles annual open house, Pencader Museum, Wilmington College, and others.

The Delaware Military Museum sponsors a monthly William Duncan Memorial Lecture Series on topics as varied as the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge, the Tuskegee Airmen, Vietnam Mailbag, and the WAFS who served in Wilmington during World War II. We have provided speakers on military topics to various veteran’s events and observations such as Pearl Harbor Day, Memorial Day and POW day.

Research programs

As previously stated, the museum houses a 5000-volume library of military history and an extensive archive of rosters, orders, documents, paintings, photographs, maps, posters, scrapbooks, photo albums, diaries and letters. Our aim is to make these historical materials available to teachers, students, writers, and researchers.

Through our website at izi.travel/en/b160-delaware-military-museum-digital-collection/en, researchers can access a virtual museum where many of our artifacts are on view. These exhibits usually include an image, a short description, references to other resources, and oftentimes a video. This online gallery largely parallels our physical exhibits but has many extra features.

A relatively new effort is our link to the Delaware Libraries managed website called “Delaware Collections,” where we are adding new digital material every month. Visit cdm16397.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16397coll26/search

Artwork

The Foundation has responsibility for the artwork collection of the Delaware National Guard. In the past we have raised funds for cleaning and the restoration of murals and paintings of value. Our collection of World War One art by Brandywine School artists is currently on loan to the Delaware Archives. You can view over 40 artworks at our on-line gallery at izi.travel/en/531c-museum-art-gallery/en

The museum facility

Our library has a very large conference table with seating able to accommodate up to about 40 people. We freely share this room and its facilities with other local groups of veterans, re-enactors, and educators. There is an adjoining kitchenette, so we can even cater on a modest scale.

We rely upon electronic media to get the word out on our programs and activities. We have a Facebook page, Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation, and a very active Facebook group Delaware Military Museum.

Our website is delawaremilitarymuseum.org/.

Brig. Gen. Kennard R. Wiggins, Jr. (DE ANG Ret. ) is curator of the Delaware Military Museum

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Military Museum offers visitors a rich variety of experiences