A very familiar Cold War era tank will roar into life for America’s Tank Demo Weekend on July 25-26, 2026 this weekend - the early M60 Main Battle Tank. Found around the country on static display, but rarely seen driving, it’s another new addition to our operational tank lineup… more info on the event at the link in our bio or at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/americas-tank-demo-weekend-july/ ![]()
![]()
The M60 Main Battle Tank was developed in response to the growing threat posed by advanced Soviet armor during the Cold War and entered U.S. Army service in 1960. While outwardly similar to the M48 Patton, the M60 featured a larger hull, improved armor protection, and a powerful British-designed 105mm M68 rifled gun that significantly increased its firepower against enemy tanks. Powered by a reliable diesel engine, the M60 offered greater operational range and fuel efficiency than its gasoline-powered predecessors. It quickly became the backbone of U.S. armored forces throughout the 1960s and 1970s and served extensively with NATO allies around the world. Although U.S. Army M60s did not see combat in Vietnam, they later fought during Operation Desert Storm with the U.S. Marine Corps and continued serving with allied nations well into the 21st century. The early M60 as displayed here established the foundation for the highly successful M60A1 and A3 variants that followed along with the limited use A2 variant.![]()
![]()
#m60 #mainbattletank #tanks #tanklife #visitma
Another successful day at AirVenture in the books! We were honored to fly the PBY-5A in the opening flight for this evenings night show. Thank you to everyone who came out to see us today! The PBY will be on display all week, so if you haven't had a chance to see it, come on down!![]()
![]()
#AmericanHeritageMuseum #WWIIHistory #PBY #eaa #osh
If you missed watching it live yesterday, check out the recording of the Warbirds In Review presentation of our PBY-5A Catalina BuNo 2459 at EAA - The Spirit of Aviation AirVenture 2026 featuring Rob Collings and Joe Scheil at this link!
www.youtube.com
Warbirds in Review is brought to you by ScottsMiracle-Gro, Fagen Fi...
Another featured tracked Cold War era vehicle for America’s Tank Demo Weekend on July 25-26, 2026 this weekend is the rarely seen M47 Patton - another new addition to our operational tank lineup… more info on the event at the link in our bio or at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/americas-tank-demo-weekend-july/ ![]()
![]()
The M47 Patton was developed during the early years of the Cold War to provide the U.S. Army with a more capable main battle tank while newer designs were still in development. Entering service in 1952, the M47 combined the hull of the M46 Patton with a newly designed turret featuring an improved 90mm gun and advanced fire control equipment for its era. Although it saw only limited service with U.S. forces before being replaced by the M48 Patton, the M47 became one of the most widely exported American tanks of the 1950s. It served with more than two dozen allied nations through NATO and military assistance programs, remaining in frontline service in some countries for decades. The M47 participated in numerous Cold War conflicts and regional wars across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Its widespread adoption helped strengthen allied armored forces and made it an important symbol of American military cooperation during the Cold War.![]()
![]()
#m47 #tanks #worldoftanks #tankmuseum #americanheritagemuseum
Day two of Oshkosh is coming to a close and we are so excited to help kick off the nighttime show tomorrow! If you would like to see the PBY-5A in the air, come on out for the opening flight at 8:00pm CDT, tomorrow, July 22nd! Hope to see you there!![]()
![]()
#AmericanHeritageMuseum #WWIIHistory #PBY #eaa #osh
- This event has passed.
History After Hours: Oral Histories of American Patriotism with Dr. Kevin P. Wallace and L. Wright Wallace featuring 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Marc Fucarile
July 2 @ 6:00 pm, ending 7:30 pm
Included with Standard Museum Admission
On July 2, 2026 at 6:00 P.M., just 48 hours before the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American Heritage Museum will host a singular event bridging the battlefields of the past and the veterans of today.
Retired senior master sergeant, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart recipient Dr. Kevin P. Wallace; and Harvard Extension School student, anthropologist and author L. Wright Wallace will present “Oral Histories of American Patriotism” for their new book, Van of Valor, with Boston’s own Marc Fucarile moderating the evening.
The book, released by Ballast Books of Valor Press on June 30, 2026, will be available at the event.
The evening begins with Fucarile, a resilient survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing who lost his leg standing just feet from the second blast, delivering opening remarks that set the tone for a night of shared patriotism. Today a celebrated motivational speaker and founder of the MARC Network, which provides resources for individuals with mobility challenges, Fucarile embodies the evening’s theme of turning tragedy into triumph.
Dr. and Mrs. Wallace will then take guests inside their extraordinary journey of 280 days on the road covering more than 27,000 miles, (like driving west out of Boston on I-90, around the full circumference of the Earth back to Boston, and then continuing west and down to San Diego). They experienced multiple breakdowns, but changed the lives of so many people on the road.
Along the way, they interviewed 317 heroic Purple Heart recipients, Prisoners of War, and Gold Star Families. They carried the names of more than 440 fallen on the van walls. The van itself, a converted old FedEx fleet van, was their home, vehicle and mobile recording studio.
Surrounded by over a century of military artifacts, from Sherman tanks to combat aircraft, the presentation will shift from a traditional talk to a “Town Hall for Heroes,” exploring the length of sacrifice required to build and preserve the nation.
Instead of the famed Van of Valor vehicle, the Wallaces will bring the stories, along with artifacts and physical tokens from their mission, and the Van of Valor book. The Wallaces will be available for Q & As after their formal talk, and will also be available to sign books.
“Having Marc guide this conversation is deeply meaningful,” said Dr. Wallace. “His story is Boston’s story. Surrounded by tanks and aircraft that secured our freedoms, and just two days before America’s 250th birthday, Marc will help us open the floor to veterans and guests to share their own family legacies of service.”
Admission to the presentation is included with standard admission to the American Heritage Museum – purchase tickets online at the link below. American Heritage Museum and NARM members are admitted for free. Veterans and First Responders are admitted free for this evening event.
Purchase AHM Admission for Thursday, July 2nd
For more information on Van of Valor, please visit www.HelpVoV.com.
About Van of Valor: Van of Valor stands alone, the only book of its kind, and it’s about to rock the nation. The work chronicles Dr. and Mrs. Wallace’s relentless 280-day journey across America, preserving the first-person stories of 317 Purple Heart recipients, POWs, and Gold Star Families. Co-author L. Wright Wallace is a current student at the Harvard Extension School.
