City: Branson, MO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (417) 336-2300

Description: This museum isn’t easily missed. A full-size World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane that looks like it is about to strafe your car marks the museum’s location on The Strip. This attraction offers 18,000 square feet of authentic, thought-provoking exhibits and dramatic art in 10 great halls covering conflicts fought during the 20th century, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and more. Sculpture, murals, historical artifacts, objets d’art, and thousands of authentic memorabilia honor all branches of the service, major battlefronts, campaigns, industrial defense, and others. More than 500,000 names of the men and women killed in action to defend our freedoms in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and other recent conflicts of the 20th century are displayed on the walls of the halls. In fact, the WWII Hall is the only place in the world where you will see these names displayed.Fred Hoppe, internationally renowned bronze sculptor, researched and traveled the world collecting these special exhibits. The world’s largest bronze sculpture (70-plus feet long, weighing 15 tons) is a hallmark of the museum and features 50 life-size statues storming a beach. Each life-size statue is modeled after a combat veteran from each state. The Veterans Memorial Museum is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily year-round. Hours may vary in January, February, and March. Admission prices are $13.50 plus tax for adults and $4.50 plus tax for children 6 to 12. Veterans get a $1 price reduction.