ATHENS, Ala. — The Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives isn't gone, it just moved. Now, it's open in its new location.
Governor Kay Ivey was on hand for the ribbon-cutting and to take a first look at the museum. The collection contains artifacts from the Revolutionary War through the present day.
Visitors can walk among the actual uniforms, medals, photos and weapons and hear stories and experiences about the nation’s wars from men and women who fought them.
Ivey cut the ribbon, saying, "After a tough year and a half, truly 2020 was a doozy, I'm so pleased to celebrate with you today at this great facility, and this, as he said, is the beginning of a great facility."
Most of the military artifacts are donated by veterans and their families who wish to see them preserved for future generations. The artifacts and displays are not all about battle, though. Recreations of period homes, field offices, table settings, barracks, and more using authentic items show visitors what life was like off the battlefield. A large collection of uniforms, gear, and weapons, along with photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts, show what life was like on the battlefield.
The museum is now located at an event center at 114 W. Pryor St. in Athens. Half of the location is dedicated to the museum; the other half will be run as an event center.