Texas Military Forces Museum

Texas Military Forces Museum

Texas Military Forces Museum
4.5
Military MuseumsSpeciality MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Berghof
    McKinney, Texas66 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very impressive collection!
    This gem of a museum only gets better with time each time I have visited over 25 years. Housed on a military base, but you only need to show a drivers license or ID at the gate...no hassle like some bases to see their museums. Has impressive items from revolutionary war to present. From having a very rare WW2 German Jagdpanzer 38 (Hetzer) tank destroyer to some impressive and rare from WW2 artifacts, if you are into military history, you will love this museum. Free to enter and also has an outdoor area with several more tanks and artillery pieces. Kids will love it too!
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written January 4, 2024
  • pdSixty8
    Austin, Texas2,856 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Showcase of Texas Military Heroes
    Sometimes I have to go to Camp Mabry for business and this time took time to see the Texas Military Forces Museum. Getting on the installation only requires identification for all guests like a drivers license. The museum is free and they get funding by having guests sign a log. The outside may not have looked much but the inside was impressive and updated with modern exhibit presentations. It was a lot to see and read. They covered all military conflicts from when Texas was established up to current events. There was all sort of equipment and hardware on display. I definitely needed more time to read about it all. The big vehicles and aircraft were cool to see and takes you back in time. Kids would love to see these up close and get to touch a real life tank outside. The people working there are very nice and friendly and they have a gift shop. After spending an hour and half inside I walked around where found a graveyard of old military vehicles. This is where can knock on a tank and feel how thick it was. Solid steel and surprised it can be moved with early 20th century engine power. There are a wide range of tanks and other military hardware like artillery and support vehicles. The outside was not well taken care of where signs are faded and muddy paths but gave that authentic feel where these vehicles have been. Don’t be scared to enter the base where this museum is definitely worth checking out.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written January 14, 2024
  • Mary T
    Fort Worth, Texas176 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the Best We’ve Seen
    This was one of the best museums we’ve been to in the US. It covers all the wars and conflicts Texans have fought in. The signage is easy to read and appropriate amount of information. There are static displays inside and out. You could easily spend 2+ hours here if you wanted to read everything. Highly recommend!
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written February 10, 2024
  • bikerbabe2014
    Dublin, Ireland313 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Outstanding museum.
    A real treat to visit a military museum with such an extensive variety of impressive historical artifacts from revolutionary war, right up to the near present day conflicts. ID required before entry to this Free museum. Lots of great info displayed in very readable format so that young people can understand. Fantastic to be able to wander around the array of military vehicles outside the museum also. Well Done everyone.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 20, 2024
  • Dave B
    Euless, Texas128 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you are a Texan, must see!
    This is a great museum that has a ton of information. It is neat that it focuses on a group of Texans in the wars and the contributions they made to our freedom. We were there quite some time and couldn’t read all the information and see the exhibits. Loved it and will return!
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written July 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles276 reviews
Excellent
184
Very good
80
Average
11
Poor
1
Terrible
0

Berghof
McKinney, TX66 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
This gem of a museum only gets better with time each time I have visited over 25 years. Housed on a military base, but you only need to show a drivers license or ID at the gate...no hassle like some bases to see their museums. Has impressive items from revolutionary war to present. From having a very rare WW2 German Jagdpanzer 38 (Hetzer) tank destroyer to some impressive and rare from WW2 artifacts, if you are into military history, you will love this museum. Free to enter and also has an outdoor area with several more tanks and artillery pieces. Kids will love it too!
Written January 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jenny M
Galveston, TX43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
This museum had fascinating exhibits about wars from the time of the Texas War for Independence to the present day. We spent 2 hours there and could have stayed longer. Highly recommend.

Tip: Mapquest was unable to route us to the drive through entrance. We used the excellent directions on the museum’s website instead.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pdSixty8
Austin, TX2,856 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
Sometimes I have to go to Camp Mabry for business and this time took time to see the Texas Military Forces Museum. Getting on the installation only requires identification for all guests like a drivers license. The museum is free and they get funding by having guests sign a log.

The outside may not have looked much but the inside was impressive and updated with modern exhibit presentations. It was a lot to see and read. They covered all military conflicts from when Texas was established up to current events. There was all sort of equipment and hardware on display. I definitely needed more time to read about it all.

The big vehicles and aircraft were cool to see and takes you back in time. Kids would love to see these up close and get to touch a real life tank outside. The people working there are very nice and friendly and they have a gift shop.

After spending an hour and half inside I walked around where found a graveyard of old military vehicles. This is where can knock on a tank and feel how thick it was. Solid steel and surprised it can be moved with early 20th century engine power. There are a wide range of tanks and other military hardware like artillery and support vehicles. The outside was not well taken care of where signs are faded and muddy paths but gave that authentic feel where these vehicles have been.

Don’t be scared to enter the base where this museum is definitely worth checking out.
Written January 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lee M
Tampa, FL256 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Saw this place on the internet getting ready to travel. Looked amazing. Lived up to expectations big time. All kinds of vehicles and other stuff everywhere you look. The offshoot labyrinthian areas for the (1) early Texas history and the Alamo, as well as (2) World War 1 and WWII areas were simply magical for those interested in American history and Texas history. In each of these areas there are the most astonishing big dioramas you will likely ever be lucky to see. I was surprised and a little astonished, which is very rare for me since after 59 years I'm pretty nonplussed. If you have all day you can read the 100,000 thousand words of very interesting history on the many informative posters put together by serious museum curator experts. I took photos of some of the background history plaques to read later on my computer. Then the whole sensory experience with all the tanks, artillery, guns, swords, grenades, military vehicles of all sorts and endless other stuff to study and enjoy should blow away kids. Audie Murphy is right outside too, so take a picture and pray we avoid war....even as we know another is coming. If you are a military or history student of life you have to go here!
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Merilee D
Philadelphia, PA18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
We saw tanks, trucks, and equipment from all different years and wars. VERY interesting. We had a greeter who filled us in on a lot of the history surrounding us. MANY exhibits to see and humble you as you see what all these brave men and women did and continue to do serving our country! There was a little gift shop area we got the kids some things to bring home from our trip. Lots to see outside , plenty of photo opportunities also.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Soupdragon51
Biggleswade, UK73 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
At first we were a bit unsure as to whether being non-American we would be allowed on the base to go to this museum, had our passports, Veterans ID & driver’s licences with us and in fact didn’t need them really. Man on gate was surprised that people from UK were visiting, gave us directions to the museum and off we went. Museum is fantastic, manned by Veteran Volunteers who were more than happy to chat to us about the place. Spent a very pleasant hour and a half walking around. Then on way out of camp we were able to drive down the aircraft display line. Well worth a side trip to see this ,museum & air park.
Written October 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Caryn J
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Family
This is an absolute gem of a museum. If you have any interest in the military history of the past 150 years, this is worth a visit. The history in the explanatory panels is top notch, the dioramas are fascinating and there are exhibits that I haven’t seen anywhere else. It’s unusual to see German artillery equipment, for example. The breadth and diversity of the displays speak both to the generosity of the Texans who contributed the items in the exhibits, and to their courage and steadfastness in battle without losing sight of the larger historical context. Don’t miss this one.
Written February 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bikerbabe2014
Dublin, Ireland313 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Friends
A real treat to visit a military museum with such an extensive variety of impressive historical artifacts from revolutionary war, right up to the near present day conflicts.
ID required before entry to this Free museum. Lots of great info displayed in very readable format so that young people can understand.
Fantastic to be able to wander around the array of military vehicles outside the museum also. Well Done everyone.
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary T
Fort Worth, TX176 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This was one of the best museums we’ve been to in the US. It covers all the wars and conflicts Texans have fought in. The signage is easy to read and appropriate amount of information. There are static displays inside and out. You could easily spend 2+ hours here if you wanted to read everything. Highly recommend!
Written February 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Oscar A
United States169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 • Couples
Hidden gem on Camp Mabry. Open to the public just go to the website and follow directions. If youre into military history it follows the path of the 36th Infantry Division throughout WWI, WWII and beyond as well as Texas and Mexican history through the transition to independance. Vehicles and aircraft from all eras with each having a bit of history. From Sherman's to Abrams on the armor row outside. Would recommend for the history buffs.
Written May 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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