Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum
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The new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum, is just east of the Minnesota State Veteran Cemetery, near Camp Ripley. The Brainerd VFW is a $60,000 contributor to this project, which has a $35 million dollar+ price tag.
Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10 am there was a ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony, followed by speakers at this all-day event with music.
There was an honor guard with flags. A huge crowd showed up for the grand opening and a tour of the museum. Reenactors were on hand in military uniforms.
Thursday, September 11, 2026, The public was invited to the Minnesota Voices theatre at the museum for a presentation on 9-11. There was a 7 pm screening of Resolute: Minnesota stories from post-9/11 Homefront.
June 18, 2026: A few invited guests were at the new 40,000 square foot Minnesota Military Museum to view progress on its construction. New exhibits were being installed. That includes the conning tower from the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul Submarine, A gun from the USS Ward that fired the first shot for the US in WWII, A Stuart Tank from the Bataan Death March era, thanks to the 194th Tank Battalion in Brainerd and much more. Exhibits at existing 5000 square foot museum will be transferred to this new 45,000 square foot facility just before the Saturday, September 12, 2026, 10 am ribbon cutting/grand opening. Stay tuned.
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September 16, 2023, 2 pm: Groundbreaking for the new Minnesota Military Museum was held just east of Camp Ripley. Kevin Doran from Hubbard Broadcating was the MC. Honor Guards from around Minnesota were there to present the flags. Minnesota National Guard General Lowell Kruse was one of the speakers, as was General Joseph Votel who gave the Keynote address. He said he is looking forward to the 2026 grand opening and seeing the conning tower of a submarine emerging from the snow in winter. Air Force Master Sergeant Jessica Lewellen sang God Bless America to the applause of everyone.
A 1943 vintage bulldozer was used by a Seabee re-enactor to push dirt at the ceremony.
See the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
See the WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA.
See the OV-1 Mohawk Association.
