header.php
The weather today (Thursday) might be rough, but we are still a GO for our WWII Tank Demonstration Weekend at the American Heritage Museum this Saturday and Sunday! Remember that all the museum buildings are indoors and a wet tank track only adds a bit of realism to the driving operations! Get your tickets and see the schedule at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/tank-demonstration-weekend-memorial-day-may-2025/*Photo by Warren Disbrow ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
What is your favorite Half-Track of all time?Join the conversation and share your thoughts! 💭 Each week, We're posing a question about historical military vehicles, and we want YOU to weigh in. Whether you’re a history buff, or just curious—we want to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below to cast your vote! 👇#QuestionOfTheWeek #HistoryBuff ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for May 14th is the electrical hook-up on our German Flak Battery Spotlight… see the previous post for the full details!Good luck on this week’s challenge! #americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from May 14th is the electrical hook-up on our German Flak Battery Spotlight! This is where you would connect the leads from the accompanying generator to power the light!Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, May 21st at 10:00 am EST!#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Join us this weekend for our WWII Tank Demonstration! All three museums will be open - The American Heritage Museum, Classic Car Collection and Historic Aircraft Hangar. Rain or shine, this will be a fantastic weekend where you will be able to see on one America's finest collections of aircraft, classic automobiles, tanks and armored vehicles. More information and tickets see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/tank-demonstration-weekend-memorial-day-may-2025/ ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

Speaker Series: MacArthur Reconsidered

September 22, 2023 @ 2:00 pm, ending 3:30 pm

$10 – $20

Join us at the American Heritage Museum on September 22nd to hear a presentation by James Ellman, author of “MacArthur Reconsidered,” as he digs deep, connects the dots, and concludes that General Douglas MacArthur was decidedly not a military genius.

One of America’s most controversial generals, Douglas MacArthur’s rise through the U.S. Army’s ranks was meteoric. However, he did not lead large formations of men in combat until he assumed command of forces in the Philippines in 1941. When war commenced with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, MacArthur’s performance on the battlefield was a failure: he underestimated the Japanese, and his poorly trained forces were outmaneuvered and outfought by a much smaller invading force. However, in what became a repeating hallmark of his career, he successfully portrayed his actions to much of the American people as brilliant and heroic regardless of victory or defeat. After fleeing to Australia, MacArthur famously announced, “I will return,” and followed through on a quest to retake Manila regardless of its impact on Allied global strategy or its cost in American, Australian, and Filipino blood.

In his subsequent role as America’s shogun in Tokyo, MacArthur was again surprised by an enemy he underestimated. The Korean War yielded his greatest victory, at Inchon, but also his greatest defeat, along the Yalu River. Unwilling to accept anything but complete victory, he openly defied President Truman: MacArthur fatally undermined chances for an early peace, planned to seed a great swath of enemy territory with radioactive cobalt, and attempted to widen a conflict which threatened to become a third world war. Raging against his subsequent firing, he only truly faded away after he was publicly criticized by a panoply of America’s greatest WWII generals.

Today, MacArthur still polarizes. Many biographies agree he was a great and patriotic leader marred by a few failures. Ellman argues the opposite: MacArthur was a lackluster battlefield commander who suffered stunning defeats while undermining the command structure of our military.

Details

Date:
September 22, 2023
Time:
2:00 pm, ending 3:30 pm
Cost:
$10 – $20
Event Categories:
, ,
footer.php

EVENT TICKETS ONLY FOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY - No General Admissions available this weekend during WWII Tank Demonstration event.

There will be no General Admissions tickets available on Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th during the WWII Tank Demonstration Weekend - all visitors on Saturday and Sunday must purchase event tickets for Saturday and Sunday for access to the American Heritage Museum. $30 Adults | $25 Seniors/Veterans | $20 Children 3 to 16 years old.