A historic victory for an extraordinary aircraft.![]()
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The American Heritage Museum’s PBY-5A Catalina, BuNo 2459, has been named the World War II Grand Champion Warbird at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. American Aero Services also received the prestigious Golden Wrench Award for its remarkable seven-year restoration.![]()
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Discover the story behind this historic achievement and the dedicated team that returned the world’s highest-scoring anti-submarine aircraft to the sky.![]()
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Read the full story at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/2026/07/american-heritage-museums-historic-pby-5a-catalina-wins-wo...![]()
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Photos: Al Sauer, Jim Harley, Doug Birkey
America’s Tank Demo Weekend starts today at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA! See our WWII tanks in operation along with our new Cold War Era tanks for their first running display! See the M4 Sherman, M5 Stuart, M24 Chaffee, and M36 Jackson along with the M41 Walker Bulldog, M47 Patton, M60 Main Battle Tank, M88 Recovery Vehicle, and the M60A2. Gates open at 9am and live demos at 11am and 2pm. Lots to see and do - all three museum buildings are open, and speakers in the main museum on tank topics all day. Buy tickets and get info at the link in our bio or at americanheritagemuseum.org. #americanheritagemuseum #visitma #tanks #worldoftanks #hudsonma
If you haven't already had a chance to see our PBY-5A Catalina at EAA AirVenture, there's still time! Come on out and pay us a visit before the show is over!![]()
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#AmericanHeritageMuseum #WWIIHistory #PBY #eaa #osh
This Weekend! America's Tank Demo Weekend - Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th! Learn More: ahmus.me/atdw2026 - Here's a sneak preview of the incredible new Cold War Era tanks that will be featured including the new M41 Walker Bulldog, M47 Patton, M60 Main Battle Tank, and M88 Recovery Vehicle and M60A2. These will be joined by our WWII tanks: M5 Stuart, M4 Sherman, M24 Chaffee, and M36 Jackson! You don't want to miss it! Get Tickets at ahmus.me/atdw2026
Rounding out our Cold War era tanks that will be on the roll for America’s Tank Demo Weekend on July 25-26, 2026 this weekend - the last light tank designed by the U.S., the M41 Walker Bulldog. Though we have an M41 in the Vietnam Gallery, this second operational example is a great 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/ ![]()
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The M41 Walker Bulldog was developed in the late 1940s to replace the aging M24 Chaffee and provide the U.S. Army with a faster, more heavily armed light tank for reconnaissance and airborne support missions. Entering service in 1951, the M41 featured a high-speed gasoline engine, torsion bar suspension, and a powerful 76mm gun capable of engaging both enemy armor and fortified positions. Named in honor of General Walton H. Walker, who was killed during the Korean War, the tank combined mobility, firepower, and reliability, making it one of the most capable light tanks of its era. Although it saw only limited combat with U.S. forces, the M41 was widely exported through American military assistance programs and served with dozens of allied nations for decades. It participated in conflicts throughout Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, with many countries modernizing the design long after its retirement from U.S. service. Today, the M41 remains one of the most recognizable and successful light tanks of the Cold War. #m41 #walkerbulldog #tanks #worldoftanks #tankmuseum
Drive the Famous Iconic Movie Star Medium Tank of WWII
The American Heritage Museum is proud to offer exciting tank driving experiences in the Spring, Summer, and Fall aboard the M4 Sherman Medium tank used throughout World War II. The M4 Sherman is the iconic tank that was used in all theaters of operations, including the offensive campaign that surged toward Berlin in 1944. This M4 Sherman is also a movie star, being the star of the 1982 movie “Tank” with James Garner.
Tank driving programs on the M4 Sherman are a donation of $1495.00 per driving participant aboard the tank for a one hour training experience that includes ground instruction, startup, driving instruction with our instructor, and YOU drive the M4 Sherman for 20 minutes on our tank driving grounds at the American Heritage Museum. If you would like to add an additional rider in the turret during your driving experience, please add a $195 donation to your booking. Most of the cost of the driving program is considered a tax-deductible contribution.
Watch a Video on the M4 Driving Experience
Book Your M4 Sherman Tank Driving Experience Today!
Tank driving experiences on the M4 Sherman are being offered in the mornings of select weekends through the season. Please click the button below for schedules and online booking. We can also accommodate custom tank driving slots during weekdays when available – call us at 978-562-9182 to inquire about weekday driving reservations.
For safety, all driving participants should be 16 years of age or older and be at least 5′ 2″ tall and have good physical strength to drive. Any additional riders in the turret must be at least 5′ tall to ride. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult in the turret if they meet the height requirement.
Gift Certificates Available
Looking to give a tank driving experience as a gift? We have presentation gift certificates available for gift giving to the tank enthusiast in your family! Tank Driving Gift Certificates are open ended and allow the recipient to schedule their own driving experience at their convenience. Click here to learn more about and purchase an M4 Sherman Tank Driving Experience Gift Certificate at this link.
History of the M4 Sherman
One of the most produced tanks of WWII, the M4 Sherman saw its debut storming across the hot sands of North Africa in 1942, and went on to see combat in every theater. M4s could be seen everywhere, from the island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific to the dangerous hedgerows of Normandy, even fighting in the steppes of the Eastern Front. Packing a 75mm main cannon, the M4 was a strong and reliable tank on the battlefield. Through progressive upgrades the M4 remained the definitive Allied tank throughout the Second World War and into Korea. Loved by crews for its ease of use and maintenance, the M4 Sherman remains a symbol of the Liberation of Europe and a testament to the bravery of the crews that fought in them.
SPECIFICATIONS
Armament: 75mm M3 Cannon, one .50 cal. MG and 2x .30 cal. MGs.
Crew: 5, Commander, Gunner, Driver, Loader, Co-Driver.
Engine: 450 Horsepower Ford GAA, 1,100 cubic inch V-8
Range: 130 miles
