Contact Details and Address for The Texas Military Forces Museum

Updated

The Texas Military Forces Museum is located at 3038 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703, inside Camp Mabry. You can reach the museum by phone at 512-782-5659 (Monday through Friday) or by email at [email protected]. Admission is free, and the museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with outdoor exhibits open dawn to dusk year-round.

Because the museum sits on an active military base, getting in takes more than just showing up at the address. The details below cover how to contact the museum, how to enter Camp Mabry, and what to expect once you arrive.

Contact Information

Method Detail
Phone 512-782-5659 (Mon.–Fri.)
Email [email protected]
Address 3038 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703

Use the phone or email for general questions about hours, exhibits, or special events. Note that the phone line is staffed Monday through Friday, so weekend inquiries are best sent by email.

How to Enter Camp Mabry

The museum is on an active military installation, so all visitors must pass through security before reaching it.

  • Enter via Maintenance Drive off West 35th Street, just before Pecos.
  • Visitors 18 and older must be vetted at the Visitor Control Center (VCC) before entering the post.
  • The VCC closes at 3 p.m., and visitors must enter Camp Mabry by 3 p.m. to obtain admission to the museum. Arrive at the 35th St. entrance no later than 2:55 p.m. if you plan to visit.
  • Bring a photo ID. Accepted forms include a US Department of War military ID, a military retiree/dependent issued ID card, a US government-issued ID card, a state-issued driver's license or ID, or a US Visa.
  • Foreign passports or foreign military IDs without an accompanying US Visa do not allow access to Camp Mabry at this time, even if accompanied by a valid ID card holder.

Hours at a Glance

Area Hours
Museum 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., seven days a week
Outdoor exhibits Dawn to dusk, all year
Visitor Control Center Closes at 3 p.m.

What You'll Find There

The 45,000-square-foot museum covers the history of Texas militia and volunteer forces from 1823—the date of the first militia muster in Stephen F. Austin's colony—through 1903, when Congress created the National Guard. From 1903 to the present, it tells the story of the Texas Army and Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard in both peacetime and wartime.

Permanent exhibits use uniforms, weapons, equipment, personal items, film, music, photographs, battle dioramas, and full-scale environments to cover periods including the Texas Revolution, the Texas Navy, the Texas Republic, the Mexican War, battles along the Indian frontier, the War between the States, the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, peacekeeping deployments, and the Global War on Terror. Living history programs, battle reenactments, and other special events take place throughout the year.

Supporting the Museum

The Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) support group that raises money for the museum. You can support it by becoming a member through the membership link on the museum's website.