The North Louisiana Military Museum is a perfect example of the old adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover. The first impression a visitor has of the museum is of a deceptively small steel building. Judging the museum by its nondescript exterior would be a mistake, however. The interior is simply superb. The museum has an incredible range of artifacts from the Civil War through WWI, WWII to Vietnam and the wars in the Middle East.
The museum was founded in 1995 and is now operated by the City of Ruston. The museum has over 10,000 artifacts in its two stories and 4,000 square feet. Many of the artifacts were donated by area veterans which gives the collection a more personal feel. While the museum has a wide range of uniforms and weapons, it also has items not usually found in collections such as a Vietnamese language guide for soldiers and a WWI guide to France.
The North Louisiana Military Museum is a delight for not just history buffs, but anyone interested in our nation’s military heritage. That heritage is much more than weapons and uniforms, it is the collective story of the men and women who served our nation in difficult and dangerous circumstances. The North Louisiana Military Museum tells those stories well. It is a fascinating place.
The North Louisiana Military Museum is located at 201 Memorial Drive, Ruston, LA, 318-251-5099. There is no charge for admission and the museum’s hours are Wednesday Noon to 4:00 pm and Thursday-Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The museum director recommends calling ahead and will promptly return all calls.
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