Programs to enhance your military group visit.
These programs offer Military Groups the chance to enrich their Museum experience. Program presenters use images, video clips, and reproduction objects to guide groups in a deeper exploration of U.S. Army history.
“A fun interactive activity for team building and group cohesion.”
Federal Group Visitor
An exciting role-playing experience tailored to groups of all ages. Museum educators guide players through interactive training stations exploring how Soldiers solve problems using geography, science, technology, engineering, and math. After training, the group is divided into squads to test their skills in responding to a simulated humanitarian mission. Following an earthquake on the fictional Belmore Island, squads are challenged to repair bridges, deliver emergency supplies, and assist civilians. Teamwork is key to success and the in-real-time progress reports get the friendly competition going.
Length: 60 Minutes
Ages: Adult
Group size: 12 to 35; larger groups may be accommodated in multiple sessions.
Cost: Free
Program times:
“Including a history talk…was a good way to do something with a history focus as a group…and then invite everyone to explore the Museum on their own and see the things that interest them.”
Military Group Visitor
The Civil War consumed the United States from 1861 to 1865. Tens of thousands of Soldiers endured hardships and challenges to carry out the Army’s military mission to preserve the Union. The items Soldiers carried into the field were invaluable to performing their duty and executing the Army’s mission. Explore the gear, weapons, and personal items that made up a Civil War Soldier’s Load.
Generations of African Americans have served their country, many serving in segregated units and not always given the respect and honor due to them. Although African Americans fought with distinction in World War II, they returned home to a segregated America. In 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which called for equal opportunity for all members of the Armed Forces. The segregated Army became a thing of the past and the segregation of American society began to crumble. Explore the commitment, challenges, and bravery of African American Soldiers serving during World War II with artifacts, primary resources, and personal accounts.
Winning World War II required an all-out effort. Thousands of women on the home front answered their country’s call to join the military, industry, and the civil service. In 1943, the U.S. Army recruited seven women mathematicians to set up and operate the Army’s newest top-secret weapon: the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). These unsung heroes wired the electrical connections that enabled the world’s first electronic, digital computer to complete 300 calculations per second. In doing so, they built a framework for the field of computer programming. Discover how female “computers” solved complex problems, contributing to Army innovation during World War II.
Length: 60 minutes
Ages: Adult
Group Size: 12 minimum
Cost: Free
Program times: 12 p.m. Monday-Friday
Ask about adding lunch to your Military Matters reservation.
Inquire about Military Matters for Military Groups
Organizations/groups are encouraged to utilize the free programs and activities the Museum offers for group visits, the Museum Guide, and on-site audio tours. The Fighting for the Nation Galleries docent-led tours are free and offered to visitors daily at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. These tours can accommodate up to 10 people each and are available on first-come, first-served basis to Museum visitors. These tours are intended for the walk-in, general public, visitor and cannot be reserved in advance. Visitors may inquire about attending a docent-led tour at the Welcome Desk when they arrive at the Museum.
As the National Army Museum, the Museum is designed specifically for a meaningful visitor experience without prior preparation. Additional visitor information, organization/unit historians, interpretation, tools or guides are not necessary and are discouraged.
Museum docents provide free guided tours at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. daily for up to 10 visitors total on a first-come, first-served basis. These tours visit the Fighting for the Nation Galleries for approximately 50 minutes. Free audio tours are also available to visitors in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic. Check out a free audio tour at the Welcome Desk with a government issued photo ID.
Leaders/group organizers are encouraged to address their group outside the Museum when they arrive or depart, such as at the outdoor plaza area. Leaders/group organizers are reminded that the Museum is open to the public and remarks for their group may not be suitable for the general public visitor experience.
The Army Theater provides visitors with an immersive introduction to the U.S. Army and to the Museum. “Of Noble Deeds” is a free 12-minute film that runs throughout the day and does not require an additional ticket. Also, the Programs and Education department offers free public programs suitable for groups, such as, Operation Safe Passage and history talks. These programs are approximately one-hour long and free of charge. More information on public programs for Military Group Programs can be found here. Groups may inquire about reserving these programs through the Group Tickets online request process.
Drop-in or “pop-up” events are not permitted anywhere (indoors or outdoors) on the Museum Campus. All events must be scheduled and approved in advance via the online special event request form. Through a lease agreement with the Army, the Army Historical Foundation is responsible for managing all elements of special event management and catering as revenue generating operations. Event requests officially begin when the customer submits an online Event Inquiry Form here.
Yes. Conferences; events requiring “business center” type space, services or support; events requiring “breakout” rooms or spaces; events requiring multiple rooms or spaces simultaneously; funerals or memorial services; and outdoor exercises and training. Please see the Military Special Event page or Military Meetings page for more information.
You are welcome to explore the Museum as a visitor daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with free, timed-entry tickets. Please use the designated online path to request your group tickets or a special event request and communicate with the designated staff POC for more information. Museum Welcome Desk staff and Volunteers are not the appropriate representatives to provide information about group ticket or special event reservations and should not be asked to support a RECON or an information-gathering visit. Information gathered outside of the group visit and special event request process, and apart from the designated Museum POC, is not valid information for your planning.
Outside food and drink are not permitted inside the Museum. The Museum Café is open during the visitor day and offers a variety of menu options. Catering services offer boxed lunch options for groups, as well as special event catering menus.
While on the Museum Campus, permissions for photography, videography, command messaging — and anything beyond standard visitor/tourist photography — should be coordinated with, and approved by the Museum public affairs officer prior to the visit.
No CAC or military affiliation is required for access. The Museum is open to the public via free timed-entry tickets.
