Living History Weekend

Watch History Come Alive at the Museum of the American G.I.’s  "Living History Weekend" on March 25 & 26!   View Living History Displays, witness WWII Battle reenactments, and watch WWI Trench battles!  

This action-packed weekend has fun activities for the entire family! There will be demonstrations and activities throughout the day. View historic military vehicles up close or take a ride in a WWII tank or Half-Track in between the demonstrations!  You can start or end your day by browsing through the militaria vendors to take home a small piece of history!

Gates open at 9:00 AM on both days. Saturday hours will be 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday hours will be 10 AM - 3 PM (last entrance 2 hours before close). Come early and stay all day!  You will not want to miss anything. Food vendors will be on-site to make sure no one goes hungry! Free Parking at Santa's Wonderland's Blitzen lot!  Included with the admission ticket is a  ride in a  WWII 2 1/2 ton CCKW, or an LMTV  or modern HUMVEE to the demonstration fields where all of the activities will take place. Transportation to the demonstration field will begin at 9:15 both days for visitors with prepurchased Tank and half-track rides and at 9:30 for all other ticket holders.

Schedule of Events (Times subject to change) 

WWI Battle Skirmish — Sat 10:30 AM & 2:30 PM, Sunday 11 AM

WWII Battle Skirmishes - Sat 11:30 AM & 4 PM, Sunday 2 PM 

History in Action - Vietnam Era - Sat 12:30   & Sunday 12:30 PM

Narrated Living History Displays - All day long

Take a ride in a WWII tank**!

Visit the information tent for an opportunity to ride in a WWII tank for one loop around the arena!  There are 12 ride times on Saturday and 9 times on Sunday with 2 tanks running during each ride time!  Tank rides in the first 4 ride times are available for pre-purchase.  All other Tank rides are sold on the day of the event at the information tent.    

*$166 /person (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection

Take a ride in a WWII Half-Track**!

Visit the information tent for an opportunity to ride in a WWII half-track for one loop around the arena! There are 12 ride times on Saturday and 9 times on Sunday with one half-track running during each ride time! Rides in the first 4 ride times are available for pre-purchase. All other half-track rides are sold on the day of the event at the information tent. 

*$26.50 /person (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)

Shoot a WWI Cannon

Feel the power of the museum’s WWI French 75 Cannon! Visit the artillery range to shoot off one blank, experiencing the force of this amazing piece of artillery.   Tickets will be available for purchase only during the event at the information tent

*$43/round (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)

Shoot a Machine Gun (Paintball that is!)

Visit the artillery range to fire a paintball-adapted machine gun!  Tickets will be available for purchase only during the event at the information tent.

*$10.50/ 50 paintballs (Tax deductible donation with proceeds going to maintaining the museum’s collection)

*Credit Card and advance purchase price ( A discount is available for tickets purchased on the day of the event with cash)

**Health & Safety Regulations for ride participants: Safety is our number one priority for anyone who rides in our vehicles. Tank Ride participants must be at least 7 years or older, with a minimum height of 52 in, and the ability to climb on and off the vehicle and in and out of the hatches unassisted. Tank Ride participants must have no underlying health conditions that would preclude riding in “off-road” conditions.  There is no age requirement for Half-Track rides except that participants must be able to remain seated (either by themself or in a lap) during the ride. All Tank Ride and Half-track ride participants (or their legal guardian) must sign a hold-harmless agreement. The Museum of the American G.I. and its crew reserve the right to refuse any participant (tank ride or half-track ride) who they deem unfit or unsafe to themselves, other participants, or the crew. The ticket price will be refunded if the ride is canceled for safety reasons.

The Living History program and vehicles listed to take part are subject to health and safety, operational, weather, and mechanical considerations. The Museum of the American G.I. reserves the right to amend or modify the program or withdraw vehicles, at any time without notification when reasonably required in accordance with its own best-practice procedures or those of exhibit owners. As with all historic machines, the appearance of any vehicle or tank in the arena display is subject to its mechanical reliability on the day.