Museum Chat

[Tom E. Gunn]

Looking good Scott! It's our big weekend tomorrow...our annual "Wartime Weekend" which has our museum as its hub. Here's my "Doughboy" which I set up yesterday.  It's actually a rare USAS uniform.

[ScottG]

  Thanks as always Ian! That is a killer looking WWI tunic and hat. I hope you have a successful Wartime Weekend! Looking forward to your pictures and stories.  Scott

[Tom E. Gunn]

  Thanks as always Ian! That is a killer looking WWI tunic and hat. I hope you have a successful Wartime Weekend! Looking forward to your pictures and stories.  Scott

Thanks Scott. All kitted-up and ready for the off! I'll be sure to post some pics after the event ( it's both today and tomorrow)

Ian

[ScottG]

 As promised, some interior shots of our newly finished building. Displays will begin going in next week! 

  First up is our entry counter and then a large room for rotating special exhibits. Our first use will be a large WWI 100th anniversary exhibit for Michigans WWI Centennial.   Scott.

[ScottG]

  Next up and moving down the hall is our lounge and one of two restrooms.   Scott

[ScottG]

  Moving further down the hall are 4 individual exhibit rooms that measure about 170 square feet a piece. They will tentatively be used for the following. Room 1= the G.A.R. of Michigan. Room 2= the Civil War through the Spanish-American War. Room 3 Korea and Vietnam. Room 4 the first Gulf War through OIF/OEF. Also Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, and Somalia etc...   Scott

[Tom E. Gunn]

I'm impressed....and deeply envious!      Well done everyone!

[ScottG]

  Then we have our large gallery which is about 1600 square feet of floor and 18 foot high walls. This will house WWI, WWII, and our pre-Revolution through 1812 gallery as we have to accommodate our British cannon. In here will likely be a recreated WWI trench, a WWII barracks or aviation ready room. The upper area is storage and exhibit prep and there is also a lower room for storage and prep as well, this area also contains a restroom. The floor is coated and sealed and as you can see there is a large bay door for our WWI ambulance when it is complete. Scott.

[ScottG]

Our little museum is starting to really transform and come together so I thought I would share some pics I took today while working on exhibits. First up is our entry/desk sign and logo!  Scott

[ScottG]

  We exist in Grass Lake Michigan as it was the home to Camp Waterloo in WWII. This camp began as a CCC Camp and them they trained M.P.s until 43 at which time it was used to house German P.O.W.s. Here is our entrance homage to Camp Waterloo. The uniform is from a local WWII M.P. who guarded prisoners and also guarded the Soo Locks here in Michigan.  Scott

[ScottG]

  Our gallery will feature the 100th anniversary of WWI. As far as we can determine, it will be the most comprehensive exhibit in the US. The national WWI museum is larger, but they don't have nearly all of the countries represented that we do. So, some of the mannequin displays! Scott.

[ScottG]

  "Smalls" have begun to go into the WWI cabinets.   Scott

[ScottG]

Some of our Vietnam room.  Scott

[ScottG]

  We are assembling a Battle of the Bulge exhibit featuring three of our groupings including a 10th armored, 101st Airborne, and 84th Division groupings. Here are some of those exhibits.   Scott

[ScottG]

  A  local gal who joined the CWAC as she was too young for the U.S. WACs.  Scott.