It’s called the Museum of the Pacific War, but why in the world is a museum dedicated to the World War II Pacific front in Fredericksburg, Texas, which is quite a ways from any body of water?
The Admiral Nimitz foundation is the parent entity of the museum, and as President and CEO Gen. Mike Hagee revealed, the name of that foundation contains the reason why the museum is there.
"Admiral Nimitz is from Fredericksburg, Texas," Hagee said.
One of the Hill Country town's most famous buildings, the old Nimitz Hotel, was turned into the National Museum of the Pacific War in the 60s. In subsequent years, that museum has played out into additional buildings and gardens, now encompassing six separate museum areas. As Hagee explains, the main one is the biggest one.
"There’s the George H.W, Bush Gallery, which is the main gallery, about 40,000 square feet," he said.
The Bush gallery is very intense. It’s set up chronologically, and you walk a snake-like path through it, from way before the war, through the entire war.
"We think that putting the story together as to why Pearl Harbor occurred and what was going on in Europe at the same time is really quite important," Hagee said.
The museum is having a remembrance on December 7, marking the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, but also something else:
"What the average young American did, and they came from all walks of life -- farmers, ranchers, city folks, country folks -- they lined up to serve this country," Hagee said.
It seemed a bit Ironic that a museum to honor those who fought in the Pacific War would also contain what it calls a peace garden, donated to the victors. Hagee explained.
"The peace garden is a typical Japanese garden," he said. "There’s a sea of tranquility, there are place for reflection."
The museum that’s all about the Pacific War also wants you to contemplate the peace.
- Learn more about the museum at: www.pacificwarmuseum.org
