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The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from October 22nd is the drum mounting clip on a German MG-34! This is not actually a drum magazine, but rather a hollow container which holds and guides a 50 round belt of ammunition! Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, October 29th at 10:00 am EST!#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday ... See MoreSee Less
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- REMINDER! -In celebration of Halloween, today, Saturday, October 25th – All children 16 years and younger in costume get free admission with a paid adult admission. Come join us for some candy, spooky scavenger hunts, and Halloween festivities! ... See MoreSee Less
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Meet the SA-2 Guideline! #AmericanHeritageMuseum #visitma #militaryhistory #historymuseum #WWII #ww2 #WorldWarII #worldwar2 #army #tanks #worldoftanks #tanknerd #avgeek #warbird #vietnamwar l ... See MoreSee Less
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Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! 🤔Thanks to everyone who played last week… The answer for October 15th is the firing lever on our British 6-Pounder… see the previous post for the full details!Good luck on this week’s challenge! #americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma ... See MoreSee Less
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The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from October 15th is the firing lever on our British 6-Pounder anti-tank cannon! Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, October 22nd at 10:00 am EST!#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday ... See MoreSee Less
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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:
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SUNDAY UPDATE: 11am Re-Enactment Taking Place, 3pm Re-Enactment Cancelled with Forecast Storm - Indoor Activities Still Open until 5pm

Due to the forecast rain storm, the 11am Re-Enactment on Sunday will be taking place, but the 3pm Re-Enactment is being cancelled. All museum buildings and Indoor activities still open until 5pm today, including the WWII Veterans Roundtable at 1pm. Pricing after 12 noon reduced to $25 Adults / $20 Seniors & Veterans / $15 for Children 16 and Under.