City: Fredericksburg, TX

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (830) 997-8600

Address: 66 miles north of San Antonio via

Insider Pick:

Description: Formerly known as the Admiral Nimitz Center, this expansive museum attracts visitors from around the globe. The 7-acre site consists of the historic Nimitz Steamboat Hotel, which is now the Admiral Nimitz Museum; the Japanese Garden of Peace; the Pacific Combat Zone; Plaza of the Presidents; Memorial Courtyard; Nimitz Education and Research Center; and the George H. W. Bush Gallery. The renovated Steamboat Hotel, the nucleus of the site, once was operated by the grandfather of Fredericksburg’s most famous son. Admiral Chester Nimitz served as World War II commander in chief of the Pacific (CinCPac). He commanded 2.5 million troops from the time he assumed command 18 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor until the Japanese surrendered.The museum now offers far more than it did during its earlier years. Special features include a living history presentation at a re-­created Pacific War battlefield complete with foxholes, trenches, bunkers, and pillboxes (for more information, contact 830-997-8600) and a larger collection of memorabilia ranging from beer passes on Mog Mog Island to aircraft and tanks; a Japanese two-­man submarine, captured the day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack; and more. Behind the museum lies the Japanese Garden of Peace, a gift from the military leaders of Japan. Follow the signs from the Garden of Peace for 1 block to the Pacific Combat Zone. Guided tours show visitors the hangar deck of an aircraft carrier, a South Pacific PT boat base with the world’s only combat-­proven, restored PT boat, and an island battlefield, modeled on the Japanese defenses at Tarawa. Tours of this outdoor exhibit take place on the hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The newly expanded George H. W. Bush Gallery features the story of the Pacific War. One of the major exhibits is HA-19, one of 5 Japanese two-­man submarines. Interactive computer installations take visitors to the fall of Bataan, one of many displays the museum says makes a visit here a “high-­impact experience.” Finally, the outdoor Plaza of the Presidents features monuments to 10 presidents, from FDR to the first President Bush, each of whom had a role in World War II. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and retired military with ID, and $6 for students with ID; children under age 6 are admitted for free. Plan to spend half a day here—there’s a lot to see.