Museums & Monuments

[connie]

John Schaffner, the division historian sent me a list of some of the museums he is familiar with. I'll start adding these, as time permits and see if I can find some links, too.

Feel free to add your own locations and links.

Battle of the Ardennes Museum - In Clervaux, Luxembourg
museum is housed in an old castle. John provided many models of WWII aircraft, armor, and missiles.
Here's a link in French to the Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes:
www.oorlogsmusea.nl/artikel/203/Mus%E9e-de-la-Bataille-des-Ardennes.htm
Scroll down far enough on this UK travel site and you'll find hours and admission info in English, but no link:
www.luxembourg.co.uk/museums.html

And, here's someone's personal travel journal that includes an exterior photo of the castle and an account of his visit there.
cstalnaker.com/Battle-of-the-Bulge-Museum,Clervaux.htm

The Remember 39-45 Museum in Thimister/Clermont Belgium
Not far from Henri Chapelle Cemetery, this museum began on a farm with materials left behind by American soldiers (not of the 106th) who were camping there.
www.remembermuseum.com/en/?Remember_Museum

Ardennes Poteau '44 Museum
www.museum-poteau44.be/
John describes this as a very good museum
Hours:
April 1- June 30 Saturday & Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00 hours.
July 1-August 31 daily from 11:00 to 17:00 hours.
September 1-October 31 Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00 hours.
The tourist information in St. Vith said you merely needed to call to arrange for a weekday visit during this time of shortened hours. But when we called they were only interested in arranging visits for large groups. A group of 4 (even with a veteran included) did not seem worthwhile at the time.

[connie]

Continuing the places mentioned by John Schaffner...
Parker's Crossroads/ Baraque de Fraiture
www.ww2museums.com/article/243/Parkers-Crossroads-Memorial.htm

also: www.bensavelkoul.nl/Ardennen_2008%20(149).jpg
A portion of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion and some men form the Service Battery of the 590th (who joined the remnants of the 589th on when separated from the rest of their battalion on December 17) joined with others to hold off the Germans at this crossroad from December 19-23, 1944. The site notes a howitzer at this point. But it looks like there may be a building, too. I'll ask. No. no museum. Just the monuments/ howitzer, etc. and some knowledgeable people at the nearby Auberge du Carrefour (accommodations and restaurant).

[connie]

There's a relatively new museum that seems to be getting high praise:
The Museum of the Battle of the Salm Riverin Ennal, Belgium: www.ww2museums.com/article/8031/Museum-of-the-Battle-of-the-Salm-and-the-Saillant-Dec-44-Jan-45.htm

Here's an amazing album of photos of this museum:
users.skynet.be/rmypegww7/BattleoftheSalmRiverMuseumEnnalBelgium/

UPDATE 8-4-2010: The museum is closed permanently

[connie]

Bulge Museum at the Mardasson Monument in Bastogne
www.bastognehistoricalcenter.be/index2.php?sm=bastogne_en-1

[Diana E]

There is a new museum adjacent to the Malmedy memorial. It opened in early 2008, I believe. I included some photos from the museum in my Ligneuville & Malmedy slideshow posted in the Travel forum.
www.baugnez44.be/en/history_battle_ardennes.php

[Carl W.]

An unfortunate bit of news to share with all of you who have either visited or wanted to visit the Museum of the Battle of the Salm River in Ennal, Belgium.

The museum has announced that it needed to close its doors permanently. Reason for the closure was the pressure on the organisation's president and his family situation. He is the owner of the barn where the museum was situated.

Still, the town of Ennal is very much worth a visit, especially because of the monument erected there in honor of the 424th Infantry Regiment of the 106th division.

Note: Photos of this monument can be found on Carl's website: 106thinfantry.webs.com/themonuments.htm
and also on this discussion board: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=remembering&action=display&thread=74

[Diana E]

I'm so sad about the Ennal museum closing. I did not get to see it, and so it was one of the places I wanted to visit when I have a day to spend in the Ardennes this November. But I understand about the pressures of family and running an organization. Thank you for letting us know, Carl.

[connie]

The museum in Ennal is closed but the monument to the 424th is still in the village. See Carl's post:
106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=remembering&action=display&thread=74

[7678ronald]

this is a museum you have to see.

www.baugnez44.be

[connie]

Thanks for adding this. I hadn't looked at this section recently and did not realize that this important museum was not there. As you will see if you check out the site, Baugnez ( a bit SE of Malmedy, if memory serves is the site of the Malmedy Massacre on December 17, 1944. The museum covers much more than this. It is very well done and, like most museums in the region, offers free admission to WWII Veterans.

Floyd can probably add personal observations on this one.
-------------------------------------------------------
For the tourist I might add that there is a restaurant at the museum. We found it was pleasant but a bit pricey (with a menu not geared to help the gluten intolerant.) So we headed toward Malmedy. Approaching Malmedy, there was a shopping center on the right that had a simple cafeteria style restaurant that offered for lunch a wide variety of choices at a reasonable price (from salads and sandwiches to the traditional bucket of mussels.)

[Diana E]

I agree that the Baugnez museum is a must-see. I didn't try the restaurant when I was there, but it looked inviting.

Eisenhower Museum and Library, Abilene, KS
It dawned on me recently that I am privileged to live near the Eisenhower Museum and Library, and that I should take some photos to share here. I had a chance to visit Abilene yesterday. This was my first visit to the museum since my trip to the Ardennes in 2008, so this trip had a different focus than my several prior visits going back to when I was a child.

I arranged my photos in a slide show that lasts about 6 minutes. The photos cover his memorial chapel, the museum, the outside grounds and his boyhood home. Many of the artifacts in the museum will be familiar WWII items, and not necessarily unique. However, this museum has his staff car from the war and a few other items that may be of interest. There is a three page memo in which he outlines the steps to be taken to improve the morale of troops. There is also the handwritten wager with Monty in which our general bet that the war would be over by Christmas 1944. If I've uploaded these as I intended, you should be able to pause the slideshow in full screen mode and read those items. There is also a pair of straw boots worn by the Germans for warmth on the eastern front.

I was disappointed but not surprised that the museum has precious little on the Battle of the Bulge, while it has substantially documented the D-Day planning and invasion. But as we all know, unlike D-Day, Eisenhower did not have a role in planning the Battle of the Bulge. Anyway, I hope there is something here of interest.

[kaben3]

Thanks for the names and listing of the museums and monuments. Some day I would like to see these for myself

[connie]

Thanks, Diana, for this film clip of the Eisenhower Museum with all its WWII equipment. I forget that there are WWII exhibits to see in the states, too... This was very interesting. The German straw boots were new to me.

[connie]

Division Monument in St Vith

www.ww2museums.com/article/660/Memorial-106th-Infantry-Division.htm

[engineercutoff44]

there is also a museum in Stavelot Belgium with the only remaining king tiger left behind by kampfgruppe pieper after the battle and some of his lost items well worth a look...