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Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991. Many Minnesotans fought in It, including COL (Retired) James Mosser, the donor of the tanker helmet in this photo. Mosser wore this helmet when he was a tank platoon commander with the 2nd Armored Division when they spearheaded the 1991 invasion of Iraq.
The framework is taking shape! Walls are rising, and the vision is becoming a reality. We can't wait to open our doors and share the stories of our Minnesota heroes with you.
Stay tuned for more construction updates or visit the link in bio.
Honoring the past, building the future. Follow along as we build a world-class museum from the ground up.
Special thanks to Breitbach Construction for their live construction camera, offering a glimpse into the progress of our new museum.
Find the construction camera link in our bio.
Big news! π @mprnews is spotlighting the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum! Both the radio and web features highlight how we honor the stories of our service members, preserve their legacy, and build a world-class museum to inspire future generations. ποΈ
Read the article or listen to learn more about our mission and exhibits. We’re so excited to have you following along as we bring this vision to life!
π [Link in bio]
We are just days away from the Army-Navy Football Game.
Join us for the official Minnesota watch party on Saturday, Dec. 14. at the James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW - Post 246.
All ages are welcome and admission is free with registration. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.
GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
Presented By Minnesota's General John W. Vessey Jr. Chapter, AUSA in conjunction with Navy League of the United States, Minnesota Council and The Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum.
Link to register in bio.
Come join us for the official Minnesota watch party for the Army-Navy Football Game on Saturday, Dec. 4. at the James Ballentine Uptown VFQ Post 246. All ages are welcome and admission is free with registration. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.
GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
Presented By Minnesota's General John W. Vessey Jr. Chapter, AUSA in conjunction with the Minnesota Council of the Navy League of the United States and The Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum.
π¬β¨ Join Us for a Special Veterans Day Film Festival!
On Veterans Day, we're bringing powerful stories of Minnesota veterans to the big screen. In partnership with @lakelandpbs and @pioneerpbs and @thefallstheatre, the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum is thrilled to showcase short films honoring the bravery, resilience, and experiences of our veterans.
π When: Veterans Day - Monday, Nov. 11; Showings at, 3, 4, 5 and 7 p.m.
π Where: The Falls Theatre 117 1st St SE, Little Falls, MN 56345
This event is free and open to the public, and all are invited to celebrate the service and sacrifice of our Minnesota heroes. Don’t miss the chance to witness these inspiring stories firsthand and join the conversation on what it truly means to serve. ποΈ
#VeteransDay #VetsFilmFestival #HonoringHeroes #MinnesotaVeterans #MMVM
For National Ask An Archivist Day, we want to recognize our archivist, Dan Ewer.
"As an archivist, I collect, preserve, organize, and describe materials to make veteran stories publicly accessible. All veteran stories are worth preserving. We receive material from veteran families, Minnesota units, and veteran organizations. We are most excited when we receive materials that tell the individual soldier's story but also represent their unit, service branch, combat theater, or the home front," said Dan.
If you or someone you know has Minnesota military records and would like to donate, please check out our website to learn more.
These aren't just photos of a random field. They are the site of our new museum. Construction has started, and thanks to a livestream camera set up by Breitbach Construction Co., you can now follow the progress.
Link in bio.
Every year, the Minnesota National Guard hosts the Court of Honor Ceremony at Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls, Minnesota.
This year, the Minnesota National Guard honored the service of 13 inductees who met the criteria of heroism and, or distinguished professional achievement and service, awarding them and engraving their names on historical plaques outside the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley.
We want to congratulate this year's inductees, and we are looking forward to continuing to be the location to host the Court of Honor at our new museum.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Jorden Newbanks
As September comes to a close, we reflect on the creation of the "Star-Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 after witnessing the British attack on Fort McHenry this month in 1814. Inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying after the battle, Key wrote a poem, later set to music, that would become our national anthem in 1931.
Our new, world-class museum, opening in Summer 2026, will have expanded exhibit space to showcase important artifacts like these that are a symbol of American resilience and spirit.
Restoration and reassembly of the sail & rudder from the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul submarine (SSN708) gets underway in advance of the new museum grand opening in 2026.
π’Meet the construction company behind the build: Breitbach Construction Co., based in Elrosa, Minn.
Ryan Breitbach, President of Breitbach Construction Co., shared, "We are proud to be part of constructing the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum. This project is more than just building a facility – it’s a chance to honor the legacy of our Veterans and showcase the history of contributions made by Minnesotans. We are helping create a space that honors and educates. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that the construction process reflects the significance of this museum. We look forward to the opening of this facility.”
πΈBreitbach will have a time-lapse camera on-site during the construction process to share progress with the community. Stay tuned!
#VeteransMuseum #BreitbachConstruction #MinnesotaHistory #HonoringOurHeroes #MuseumConstruction #CommunityBuilding
During the planning phase, the Museum board and planners visited top museums across the country and consulted with veterans from Minnesota and beyond. The new Museum design is being led by HGA Architects out of Minneapolis.
Design elements will include dark terrazzo flooring to ground the visitor experience, complemented by vertical wood slats on the walls defining the center hall. Banners and vertical baffles will hang from the ceiling, and custom display cases will elegantly exhibit artifacts and tell the stories of Minnesota Veterans. Vessey Hall will serve as the main artery of the building, leading to various galleries and museum experiences and is named after Minnesotan General John W. Vessey, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Reagan.
#MinnesotaMuseum #MilitaryMuseum #VeteransMuseum #HGA #CommunityEffort #HonoringService #MakingHistory
With construction underway, it’s time to meet the designers behind this incredible endeavor - the renowned HGA Architects out of Minneapolis.
Sara Du, the project coordinator with HGA, said the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum design is a legacy project she is honored to be a part of. "The building will be both a destination to educate visitors as well as a tribute to honor Minnesotans who have served our state and nation.”
We are making history. Construction has officially commenced on a 40,000-square-foot Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley, Minn. The facility and surrounding grounds are set for completion and a grand opening in the summer of 2026. But you don’t have to wait to see it. Grab some popcorn and enjoy this sneak peek fly-through virtual tour. πΉπΊπΈ
#MinnesotaMuseum #MilitaryMuseum #VeteransMuseum #ConstructionUpdate #CommunityEffort #GrandOpening2026 #HonoringService #MakingHistory
Today was a big day. We officially kicked off construction for the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minn. After a ceremonial groundbreaking last September, we're now officially on the journey to our grand opening in summer 2026!
Executive Director Randal Dietrich shared that “this is a facility dedicated to veterans and we are excited to continue mobilizing Minnesotans to build a world-class museum with a statewide reach and beyond. When complete, this project will honor all branches of service, both past and present. It will also truly represent a community effort, encompassing fiscal support from federal, state, community, and private funding sources.”
Today, we're not just preserving history—we're making it. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to our grand opening in summer 2026! π
#MinnesotaMuseum #MilitaryMuseum #VeteransMuseum #CampRipley #Minnesota #ConstructionUpdate #CommunityEffort #GrandOpening2026 #HonoringService #MakingHistory #MuseumLife