Last weekend my husband, our friend Virginia, and I went to Nokesville, VA, to the American Wartime Museum’s annual open house, located at “the Tank Farm.” The Tank Farm houses dozens of vintage and fully operational military armoured vehicles. Once a year in this open house, the tank collection is on display as well as a whole bunch of military reenactors, including some who really were in the theatre of war.
For part of my growing up years I lived on Army posts. My father was a U.S. Army colonel and I was used to seeing men in fatigues, green army jeeps and tanks, so visiting the Tank Farm was a nostalgic experience. My husband and Virginia are also “military brats” (alas, they are Navy, not Army), and my husband has seen every old war movie in existence. As you can imagine, we had a great time.
Diane and husband in front of a tank
Here’s a view of what the grounds looked like:
Tank Farm
British tank on the move
British Tank
And, lastly, a reenactor. This young lady is playing a member of the ATS, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the branch of the military that British women joined. Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth joined the ATS. These women served everywhere that the men served and they did everything the men did except fire weapons. There are wonderful reminiscences of these ladies on this website.
ATS reenactor
The outfit she is wearing is a vintage uniform, actually worn by a member of the ATS. Everything is authentic except the shoes. Doesn’t she look fabulous? I think she could be a heroine in a WWII romance!
What museum or historical site have you visited lately?
Remember, a comment today automatically enters you in my contest. One commenter will be chosen at random on Sept 13 to win a signed copy of Wicked Regency Nights.
And also don’t forget, Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress should be appearing on your bookstore shelves this week! If you see it, let me know!
What a wonderful trip! My nephews and niece would love something like this. My Dad took them to so many air shows when they were little and now if there is one in their area they gather a group of friends and go. My eldest nephew is quite the warplanes expert and acts as the tour guide on these excursions. I think it helps them feel close to their Pop Pop. As an Air Force brat the sight of jets flying over from the local base always makes me smile.
Unfortunately the last historical sites I visited were the two lovely homes I was lucky enough to tour in the DC area during last year’s RWA Conference. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
We’ve got to get you out more, Louisa!
I’ve never been to an air show, but my mother-in-law used to work for the Blue Angels. She liked that job!
I volunteer at the Museum at Colonial Beach and I did a stint this past Saturday. The new curator has done a fantastic job and has a new exhibit on the Oyster Wars between Virginia and Maryland. It’s fascinating.
I’m a museum junkie. Can’t wait to go back to England next year – V&A, British Museum, National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket…
You should go to Danville for the Tank Museum there. Pretty impressive!
There’s a museum at Colonial Beach? what fun. I would like to see an exhibit about oyster wars.
I, too, am pining for another visit to the UK and the British Museum. The Army Museum in Chelsea was good, too. I’d like to see the Museum of London as well.
And BTW – your new book was at the Borders in Fredericksburg on Tuesday. Bought it.
Yay!!!! This is my official first sighting.
Thanks for buying a copy, Alleyne!
My husband is an air force brat and served in the Sea Bees and he too has watched every movie and the history channel is a constant at our house. I must admit I’m not quite as enthused but I have enjoyed many of them and learned a lot. PA has many forts and battlefields – Fort Pitt is the last one we visited and the closest. Oh, and we have a fairly new History Museum that’s quite interesting. I do love museums of any kind and from anywhere.
Ha, jeanne. We call the History Channel the “Hitler Channel” there’s so much WWII on it!
PA, like VA, is steeped in history!
It has been quite awhile since I last went to a museum… a few years ago I went to our local air force base when they had an air show… they had many different planes and copters out for everyone to see and explore…
I need to see an air show, Colleen. Of course, I could go to the Air and Space museum out at Dulles where they have lots of planes.
What a remarkable experience! Last museum I went to was a little one in the San Diego City Library. They had Illuminated Manuscripts including the smallest book in the world. It was amazing.
Illuminated manuscripts!! Wow. I’ll bet that was wonderful.
I will have to check out this event.
Went to their site and signed up for their newsletter. Sent the info to some friends. My husband was an Air Force brat and her went in for a career. It isn’t the way of life fore everyone, but we loved it. We were with some great people and really miss them.
The most recent visit was to an historic house in Nashville. It belonged to Two elderly sisters donated it to the city for use in animal rescue or other wildlife charity. . The Nashville zoo is now locolated on the grounds and the house
I am in the process of getting ready to visit Manassas National Battlefield Park and Gettysburg but the unique part is that my friends and I are taking our horses and doing the battlefields on horseback. Here’s to hoping the weather cools down in the next 3 weeks. BTW just picked up your book to at Borders in Tampa.