texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org

The Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in Austin covers Texas military history from 1823, when the first militia muster was held in Stephen F. Austin's colony, through the present day. Its 45,000-square-foot permanent exhibits trace the state's militia and volunteer forces up to 1903, when Congress created the National Guard, and then the story of the Texas Army and Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard in both peacetime and wartime. Admission is free, and the museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 to 4:00, with outdoor exhibits open dawn to dusk year-round.

Historical periods on display

The permanent exhibits span a long arc of conflicts and eras, 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
• Peace Keeping Deployments
• The Global War on Terror

How the exhibits are presented

The museum uses a mix of artifacts and immersive displays rather than text panels alone. According to the museum, permanent exhibits utilize:

• Uniforms
• Weapons
• Equipment
• Personal items
• Film and music
• Photographs
• Battle dioramas
• Realistic full-scale environments

This combination is what lets the museum tell the story of the Texas Military Forces across such a wide span of time in a single building.

Special programs and events

Beyond the permanent exhibits, the museum hosts living history programs, battle reenactments, and other special events throughout the year. These are worth checking if you want to see equipment or uniforms in use rather than behind glass.

Before you go: Camp Mabry access rules

The museum sits on an active military base, so entry involves security screening. Key points from the museum:

• Visitors must enter Camp Mabry by 3 p.m. to obtain admission to the museum.
• Visitors 18 and older must be vetted at the Visitor Control Center before entering the post; the VCC closes at 3 p.m.
• Arrive at the 35th St. entrance no later than 2:55 p.m. if you wish to visit.
• Adults 18 and up need a photo ID such as a US Department of War military ID, military retiree/dependent ID, US government-issued ID, state driver's license or state-issued ID, or a US Visa.
• At this time, a foreign passport or foreign military ID card without an accompanying US Visa does not allow access to Camp Mabry, even with a valid ID card holder present.
• Enter the post via Maintenance Drive off West 35th Street, just before Pecos.

Contact and location

• Address: 3038 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 512-782-5659 (Monday through Friday)

If you want to support the museum beyond a visit, the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation, a 501c3 support group, accepts memberships through a link on the museum site.

The Texas Military Forces Museum is free to visit and open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with outdoor exhibits open dawn to dusk year-round. The catch is location: it sits on Camp Mabry, an active military base, so visitors 18 and older must be vetted at the Visitor Control Center (VCC) before entering the post. The VCC closes at 3 p.m., which means you need to arrive at the 35th Street entrance no later than 2:55 p.m. to be admitted.

Before You Go: The Entry Requirements

Because Camp Mabry is an active installation, admission to the museum requires passing through base security first. Plan around these conditions:

• Arrival deadline: Be at the 35th Street gate by 2:55 p.m. The VCC closes at 3 p.m., and visitors must enter Camp Mabry by 3 p.m. to obtain museum admission.
• Vetting for adults: All visitors 18 and older are vetted at the Visitor Control Center before entering the post.
• Photo ID required: Adults 18 and up must show 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 state ID, or a US Visa.
• Foreign documents: A foreign passport or foreign military ID card without an accompanying US Visa does not currently allow access to Camp Mabry — even if you are with a valid ID card holder.

If you are visiting with a group, everyone 18 and older needs their own qualifying ID, and the 2:55 p.m. arrival window applies to the whole group.

Getting There

The museum address is 3038 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703.

Enter the post via Maintenance Drive off of West 35th Street (just before Pecos). Do not expect to drive in through another gate — the museum's directions specify this entry point.

Hours at a Glance

The practical takeaway: if you want time inside the museum, arrive well before the 2:55 p.m. cutoff. Showing up at 2:50 p.m. leaves only about an hour before the 4:00 p.m. close, and you still have to clear vetting first.

What You'll See

The museum covers 45,000 square feet and traces 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. Topics span 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 run throughout the year.

Cost and Support

Admission to the museum is free. If you want to support it, the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation — a 501(c)(3) support group — raises money for the museum and accepts memberships through a PayPal payment link on the museum site.

Contact and Questions

For more information, contact [email protected] or call 512-782-5659, Monday through Friday.

Common Trip-Planning Mistakes

• Arriving after 2:55 p.m. The VCC closes at 3 p.m., and without vetting you cannot get onto the post — even though the museum itself stays open until 4:00 p.m.
• Bringing only a foreign passport. Without a US Visa, a foreign passport or foreign military ID does not grant access, regardless of who you're with.
• Assuming the outdoor exhibits follow museum hours. They open at dawn and close at dusk, so they're accessible outside the 10:00–4:00 indoor window — but you still have to be on base, which means clearing the 3 p.m. VCC cutoff.
• Forgetting ID for every adult in the group. Each visitor 18 and older needs a qualifying photo ID.

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

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

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.

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.

The Texas Military Forces Museum website represents the official museum located at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. It serves as an informational resource for visitors, providing details about the museum's exhibits, hours, admission, security requirements, and ways to support the institution. The museum itself is free to enter and traces the history of Texas military forces from 1823 to the present.

What the Museum Covers

The museum occupies a 45,000-square-foot facility and explores the history of the Lone Star State's militia and volunteer forces. Its historical scope is divided into two main periods:

• 1823 to 1903: From the first militia muster in Stephen F. Austin's colony through the creation of the National Guard by Congress.
• 1903 to the present: The story of the Texas Army and Air National Guard, as well as 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. Topics covered include 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.

The museum also hosts living history programs, battle reenactments, and other special events throughout the year.

Visitor Information

Security Requirements for Entry

Because the museum is located on an active military base, visitors must follow specific entry protocols:

• Visitors must enter Camp Mabry by 3 p.m. to obtain admission to the museum. The Visitor Control Center (VCC) closes at 3 p.m., so arriving by 2:55 p.m. at the 35th Street entrance is recommended.
• All adults 18 and older must be vetted at the Visitor Control Center before entering the post.
• Acceptable photo IDs include a US Department of War military ID, military retiree/dependent ID card, US government-issued ID card, state-issued driver's license or ID, or a US Visa.
• A foreign passport or foreign military ID card without an accompanying US Visa does not allow access to Camp Mabry, even in the company of a valid ID card holder.
• Entry to the post is via Maintenance Drive off West 35th Street, just before Pecos.

Supporting the Museum

The website also provides a way to support the museum through membership in the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation. This 501c3 support group raises money to build and sustain the museum. A membership link is available on the site for those who wish to contribute.

Who This Website Is For

This site is useful for:

• Prospective visitors planning a trip to Austin who want to confirm hours, admission, and entry requirements.
• Researchers and history enthusiasts looking for an overview of the museum's collections and historical scope.
• Supporters interested in joining the foundation or learning how to contribute.

If you plan to visit, the key takeaway is to arrive at the 35th Street entrance before 2:55 p.m. with a valid, accepted photo ID, since the security checkpoint closes at 3 p.m. Admission itself is free.