How to Become a Member of the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation

You can support The Texas Military Forces Museum by joining the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation, the museum's 501(c)(3) support group. The museum's site provides a PayPal payment link labeled "Membership" for this purpose. The site does not publish membership tiers, dues amounts, or specific member benefits, so for those details you should contact the museum directly at [email protected] or 512-782-5659 (Monday through Friday).

What the Foundation Does

The Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation is described as the museum's 501(c)(3) support group. According to the museum, it raises the money to build — and by extension sustain — the museum. Membership dues and donations therefore go toward supporting the museum rather than to a separate organization with unrelated goals.

How to Join

1. Go to the museum website at texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org.
2. Find the membership section, which links to a PayPal payment page (paypal.com/ncp/payment/LZFUNRV6BHXP4).
3. Complete the payment through PayPal.
4. If you want confirmation of your membership, a receipt, or details on what your level includes, email [email protected] or call 512-782-5659 on weekdays.

The site does not state whether a PayPal account is required or whether guest checkout is available, so treat that as something to check on the payment page itself.

What the Site Does Not Specify

The available museum information confirms the existence of the membership link and the foundation's role, but it does not list:

• Membership levels or categories
• Annual or lifetime dues amounts
• Specific benefits (discounts, events, publications, recognition)
• Whether membership includes any perk beyond supporting the museum

Because of this, the safest approach is to treat membership primarily as a donation-style way to fund the museum, and to ask the museum directly if you need to know what you receive in return.

Visiting While You're at It

If you plan to join in person or visit around the same time, note the access rules for Camp Mabry, since the museum sits on an active military base:

• Admission to the museum is free.
• Hours: open seven days a week, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; outdoor exhibits are open dawn to dusk year-round.
• Security: visitors 18 and older must be vetted at the Visitor Control Center, which closes at 3 p.m. Arrive at the 35th Street entrance no later than 2:55 p.m.
• ID: adults 18+ need a photo ID such as a US government-issued ID, state driver's license or state ID, US military ID, or a US visa.
• Important restriction: a foreign passport or foreign military ID without an accompanying US visa does not allow access to Camp Mabry, even if accompanied by a valid ID card holder.
• Entrance: enter via Maintenance Drive off West 35th Street, just before Pecos.
• Address: 3038 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703.

Quick Reference

If your goal is simply to support the museum financially, the PayPal membership link is the direct route. If your goal is to know exactly what membership includes before paying, contact the museum first, since the published information covers the foundation's purpose but not the membership terms.