Today and every day, we are grateful for those who have been called to the service of our nation—past and present—and for the families who stand beside them.![]()
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From all of us at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA, we wish you a warm, meaningful, and peaceful Thanksgiving. May we always remember the bravery, sacrifice, and steadfast devotion that safeguard the freedoms we gather to enjoy.
Donate today: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/annualfund2025/![]()
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Eighty years after the greatest homecoming in American history, the stories of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and their families live on at the American Heritage Museum. Every field trip, every veteran visit, every living-history weekend helps a new generation understand that freedom has a real weight—and a real cost.![]()
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We’ll never forget their bravery – donate now to preserve their memory.![]()
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Your gift to our 2025–2026 Annual Fund keeps the doors open, the engines running, and the stories alive.![]()
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#AmericanHeritageMuseum #SupportHistory #Veterans #WWII #NeverForget
Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?”! For an extra challenge, this photo is in black and white! - What is it?! 🤔![]()
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Thanks to everyone who played last week… The answer for November 19th is the muzzle break on our Pak 97/38… see the previous post for the full details!![]()
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Good luck on this week’s challenge! ![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from November 19th is the inside of the muzzle break on our German Pak 97/38! Interestingly, this 75mm cannon is actually a French design, mounted to a German 50mm cannon chassis! ![]()
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Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, November 26th at 10:00 am EST!![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday
Let's Learn About the British Mk.II Bomb Thrower!![]()
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#AmericanHeritageMuseum #visitma #militaryhistory #historymuseum #WWII #ww2 #WorldWarII #worldwar2 #army #tanks #worldoftanks #tanknerd #mortar #smokebomb #smoke
Speaker Series – Cold War Massachusetts: Hidden Infrastructure and the Legacy of Preparedness
December 12 @ 2:30 pm, ending 3:30 pm
Free with standard museum admission
This presentation explores the pivotal but often overlooked role Massachusetts played during the Cold War, when military and civil defense infrastructure—such as bunkers, radars, and missile launchers—were embedded into the state’s landscape. At the center of the story is the Framingham bunker, the nation’s first blast-resistant state emergency operations center, built to ensure continuity of government in the event of a nuclear strike. Drawing on archival research, site visits, and more than 30 years of experience in public safety and emergency management, author and historian Joshua Shanley examines how Cold War-era planning shaped modern emergency preparedness—and why its legacy still matters today.
About the Presenter
Joshua Shanley is a historian, educator, and emergency management professional with over 35 years of experience in public safety, including roles as a firefighter-paramedic and emergency management director. He currently serves with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Shanley is the author of several historical works, including Cold War Massachusetts, which examines the state’s hidden role in Cold War civil defense. His work blends archival research with real-world experience to explore how past infrastructure and policy continue to shape today’s preparedness strategies.
