National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Texas

The National Museum of the Pacific War is the only United States museum that is wholly dedicated to telling the story of World War II. The museum is located in Fredericksburg, Texas. The museum tells the story of the Pacific Theater Battles of World War II and includes the George Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Veteran's Walk of Honor, Plaza of Presidents, Japanese Garden of Peace, Nimitz Education and Research Center, and Pacific Combat Zone. The museum used to be called the Admiral Nimitz Museum which incorporated the Nimitz Hotel, but the museum has since expanded requiring a new name. All ages can explore the museum and learn something interesting. It has 34,000 square feet of exhibit space inside.

The exhibits vary widely from written information, flags, and military attire to Allied and Japanese Aircraft. They also have tanks, guns, and other large artifacts that were used during the war. In the future 40,000 square feet of space will be added to the museum. The facility is open daily, except for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hours of operation are 9am to 5pm. It generally takes four hours to tour the entire museum. Admission rates are $7 for adults and $4 for students. There are group rates and discounts for military and senior citizens. WWII Veterans are able to attend the museum at no cost.

The George Bush Gallery will display many artifacts from World War II such as planes, old weapons, and other crafts. It is undergoing expansion in 2009, but will provide 6 and 1/2 acres of space when done. The space will allow for special events to be displayed.

Admiral Chester Nimitz was a respected leader in World War II. He was also born in Fredericksburg, Texas. They honor him and his war time as an Admiral in the US Navy. They have a fifteen foot model of the carrier, Nimitz CV-68 that he captained during the war. His death was in 1966, just a short while after the US began recovering from the war.

The Plaza of Presidents is an outdoor exhibit that will show you the ten presidents who served in World War II. This includes Franklin Roosevelt and Texas's own George H.W. Bush. A plaque and their pictures are shown on the stone pyres created for the exhibit.

Military leaders of Japan gifted the United States and the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz with the Japanese Garden of Peace. It has three basic elements such as the stone, plants, and water. The garden is actually a replica of the Admirals Togo's Garden in Japan. Black and white stones show the balance of nature and yin and yang.

The Pacific Combat Zone exhibit represents information and artifacts of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Visitors can be transported back in history from the News Reports, Avenger Torpedo Bomber, and other exhibits provided in the display. The last exhibit is the World War II story in which a film depicting the Pacific War time is offered.