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National Museum of the Pacific War

National Museum of the Pacific War

National Museum of the Pacific War
5
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Open Wednesday - Monday. Formerly the Nimitz Museum, the complex is now the only museum in the Continental United States centered on World War II's Pacific campaign. Since 1968, the Museum has expanded to occupy a six-acre campus and gained a reputation as one of the premier military museums in the nation. Over the years the Museum was upgraded and enlarged, and the campus grew to accommodate the Memorial Courtyard, the Plaza of Presidents, and the Japanese Garden of Peace. We opened the expanded George H. W. Bush Gallery in 2009. The Gallery's state-of-the-art 33,000 square foot exhibition features 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts in 97 climate-controlled cases, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs. Two blocks east of the main campus is the Pacific Combat Zone. Recently reopened after an $8 million renovation. The PCZ is also home to our popular WWII Pacific Combat Program that takes place on set weekends throughout the year.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Patt4411
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania207 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dont Miss!
    A wonderful museum! So much history- and detail. I knew nothing about the War in the Pacific, but my husband is a real buff. We both got so much out of it. Almost too much info, after 2 hours I hadnt seen everything, and he couldve stayed all day.
    Visited October 2023
    Written 10 October 2023
  • Spencer M
    Longview, Texas29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best WWII museums in the nation!
    I will admit that I came in a bit skeptical regarding this museum. I had of course heard and seen online that it was good, but I had not expected such a wonderful and modern museum. This place was full of educational experiences and excellent fun, and my wife and I both enjoyed the entire experience immensely. It truly is one of the best WWII museums in the nation, and it is definitely a must see when you come to Fredericksburg.
    Visited October 2023
    Written 10 October 2023
  • Tim R
    Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent museum centered on WWII in the Pacific
    Outstanding museum for history buffs of the War of the Pacific in WWII. Lots of real airplanes and even a Japanese mini sub. Excellent photographic documentation, lots of samples of uniforms, maps, animated displays. Very nice Japanese Peace Garden. Can highly recommend.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 October 2023
  • Bill W
    West Yarmouth, Massachusetts56 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see when in Fredericksburg
    This museum is an absolute jewel. We visited for four hours back in March and spent four fascinating hours. We went back this week and spent another 4 1/2 hours. There is SO MUCH to see and absorb. It is intelligent, and well presented visually and with both explanatory text and interactive maps and exhibits. Better than five stars!!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 November 2023
  • Ron O
    Easton, Pennsylvania503 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    Excellent exhibit. So much to take in. We were there for a little over four hours. You really could spend a whole day here if you took your time reading and really looking at all that is offered. It is well worth the price of the exhibit.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 December 2023
  • No2u
    132 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bring ear plugs
    More interesting than I expected. Bring ear plugs; we found it difficult to read all the information posters/placards with voices continually blaring from adjacent informational videos. Read fast in the mini sub presentation since the teletype text disappears in about a second.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 December 2023
  • Steven P
    Auburn, Alabama239 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent museum--educational and well organized
    So much to take in. Very well done. I could spend two full days here! I didn't even have time to see the exhibits outside the main museum. The Gift shop has a great selection of books, etc. I learned so much. This is VERY well done and should not be missed when visiting the Texas Hill Country. It's only an hour from San Antonio and well worth the trip.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 9 January 2024
  • Ross T
    Portland, Texas291 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If You're Not Making Waves - You're Not Under Weigh
    The museum is located in this place because Fredericksburg is also Admiral Nimitz's boyhood hometown. On our arrival, our ears were greeted with the sounds of loud banging from a demonstration of WWII weaponry at a nearby park. Apparently a routine event. We walked past a displayed, semi-submerged (in the ground), USN submarine to enter the main building. After purchasing our admission tickets, we spent a couple of hours wandering through the honeycomb of rooms and exhibits. So much interesting stuff. No time to spend reading in detail - that would take another visit. The only minor gripe with the museum was the lack of mention of the US Coast Guard's role in the Pacific War. None the less, it was a fantastic experience, and we learned a lot. Moreover at the gift shop, we were able to purchase for a friend a very nice tropical shirt with a WWII motif. A visit well worth the time.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 16 January 2024
  • Paula S
    Greensboro, North Carolina69 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting museum with a unique focus.
    Great museum with lots of detail and types of exhibits. I learned a lot about the pacific war I did not know before such as the Japanese history leading to the conflict. The admission price was more than I usually see. Wish we had more time to enjoy the full museum.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 January 2024
  • Jim M
    Abilene, Texas64 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Museum with Exceptional Timeline of the War in the Pacific
    This is an exceptional museum and well worth the time and ANY effort you make to get there. The museum is laid out in chronological order of the war in the pacific and really details the causes that led to the conflict. Heavy on the naval engagements at first, it pivots nicely to the US Marine involvement and eventual lead in the war as the navy took command of the sea. Some really nice exhibits of actual artifacts used in battle, short, but elegant, clear and concise movies, interactive strategy games and detailed summary boards and maps outlining the war as it progressed across the Pacific. I don't know what I was expecting for a Museum of the War in the Pacific in the middle of Texas, but I was pleasantly surprised and stunned at the attention to detail, clarity of the presentation and in-depth features they display. This is a MUST VISIT if you like military history or any history of the world actually. You'll be really, really, really glad you did!! And no, I don't work for them, but I feel they deserve this review because it's just that good!!
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 February 2024
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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles3,893 reviews
Excellent
3,396
Very good
425
Average
59
Poor
6
Terrible
7

Ciahasher
Houston, TX1,059 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Solo
This building, the old Nimitz hotel, focuses on admiral Nimitz ‘s life and achievements. You can complete this tour in about 30 minutes and it’s included in the pacific war museum price. I think if you want to see this by itself, it’s two dollars.
When I was there, it closed at 5, so I made sure I left the pacific war museum by 4:30..
Lots of tidbits about Nimitz in this museum.. you definitely want to make time for it
Written 7 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jpamr5
Richmond, TX894 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 • Couples
We made reservations to visit on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at 9AM. Displays with artifacts are easy to read and are divided into several areas by events of the war.
Touring the museum is self-guided and at your own pace. We spent a little over 2 hours walking through the displays. By the end we were on information overload.
The admission fee also includes entrance to the Nitmiz Museum around the corner. We took a coffee break before heading to the Nitmiz Museum. Between the two museums are a memorial plaza and a Peace Garden which are well worth a walk through and those do not require an admission fee.
Well worth the time spent because we learned information about the war we were not aware of.
Written 30 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roger M
Macon, MO851 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Solo
You had to pre buy your admission ticket because of covid-19. They have regular admission, veterans discount, free admission for World War II veterans. Because of covid-19 a number of the display rooms were off limits. The displays and Exhibits were very good. It was inspiring to see the actual items of Heroes from World War II on display. It would have been nice if they had a snack bar inside. They have a nice gift shop.
Written 4 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for visiting and giving such a great run-down of what we have to offer. Hope you visit again soon!
Written 8 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Susan D
Prague, Czech Republic228 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
My husband and I visited the museum in late January. We enjoyed the museum and were happy it was not overly crowded which made it so much easier to read the information and watch the videos with being pushed.
We spent a little over two hours there. The other museum was not opened right now, nor did we visit a couple of other spots that the gentleman suggested as we purchased our tickets. We have already been to the WWII museum in New Orleans, and this one is nicely done. My dad was in the army and stationed at
Guadalcanal so this visit was particularly meaningful for me.
Gift shop had extensive number of books for sale as well as other types of souvenirs.
Across the street is the Visitor’s Center. Make sure to go and watch the short movie. The staff is very helpful to help you plan your time in town.
We walked the Main St and had a piece of pie and coffee at a local pie shop one block off Main Street.
Written 31 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We're happy to hear you enjoyed your time at the museum. Since your visit we've finished the renovations at the Nimitz Gallery which we highly recommend seeing the next time you're here! We hope to see you again soon!
Written 24 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Woodruffja
28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
If I had but a single word to describe the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas it would have to be “stunning.” I was impressed by the extent of its collection, as well as with the care taken to curate its artifacts and present them in a way that would appeal equally to visitors looking for an understanding of grand strategy and those wanting to encounter stories of individual sacrifice and triumph.

I was especially pleased that the curators chose to “show” the story of World War II in the Asia/Pacific Theater and let visitors come to their own conclusions of various moral debates, rather than opting to “tell” visitors what their conclusions ought to be. The exhibits do not gloss over the horrors of armed conflict but they provide ample reasons why the Allied participation in the 20th Century’s titanic conflagration was justified.

A suggested itinerary for visitors able to devote only two hours is readily available at the reception desk. Visitors interested in more depth can spend the better part of a full day. Both sorts of visitors can leave the museum well satisfied with the experience as both my wife and I did.

Timed reservations are suggested. Abundant on street parking is available.
Written 22 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PBG317
Hernando, MS13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
The details of each exhibit were fabulous. We had no idea the museum was so large, but the flow through the timeline was very informative. My mother-in-law was a young girl during this time in the Philippines, and my husband came away so very thankful for all the sacrifices made by so many. It was truly a great experience!
Written 23 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We're happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed your visit to the museum. We hope to see you again!
Written 24 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SLKspingirl
Texas530 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Couples
This museum is huge. I would recommend to start at the Combat Zone down the street from the main museum to see the PT boat and the airplane flown by Geo. HW Bush. Then go back to main campus museum and allow minimum 1.5 to 2 hours and that is skimming the surface. We didn’t have time to go see the Japanese Peace Garden or the Admiral Nimitz Gallery. You could easily spend a full day here depending on how deep you want to dig in. Wonderful staff very friendly and informative. Highly recommended.
Written 23 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark H
League City, TX76 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Very well done museum with tons of details on the Pacific War. Exhibits are immaculate (all looked like they are brand new) and very informative. We only planned 2 hours for our visit, and had to rush through about half of the Bush gallery. I recommend planning for at least half a day to enjoy all it has to offer.
COVID 19 protocols were in place and well executed - capacity was limited to allow distancing, everyone wearing masks, facility was very clean, and ample hand sanitizer stations were placed throughout the museum. We felt very comfortable.
Written 21 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jbushman2017
Nipomo, CA523 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
I have visited many WWII museum’s or historical sites over the last 40 years so was not expecting much today. But when we entered the museum at 9am, we did not leave until nearly 2pm and we still had not seen everything we were interested in seeing. It was that good. It is hard to find a museum the focuses on the pacific war so this was really a treat. Even the museum at Pearl Harbor was not as good as this.

Worth noting is that when you come here you are not visiting a single museum but a large museum complex. When you first enter you visit a small building that just chronicles Nimitz life. You then leave and move to the larger exhibit hall. On the way you pass through an outdoor courtyard where hundreds of plaques celebrate different people or ships that were in the war. The main exhibit hall includes a chronological display that discusses the causes of the pacific war, the attack on Pearl Harbor, all of the pacific war battles and ends with the surrender documents and the atomic bomb. This gallery tires most folks out before they finish, we spent 2.5 hours in this one hall alone. Lastly, there is a War site to visit as part of the museum that is a couple blocks away. That place is where they do some historical re-enactments but also where you can see at PT boat and some other key artifacts. Bottom line: excellent museum but if your time is limited think before you go about what you wan to spend your time on.
Written 18 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ron Murry
San Angelo, TX2,706 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Four of us were in Fredericksburg for a couple of days and we went to this Museum. Spent several hours looking at Awesome Exhibits. All of us were Very Impressed and how detailed everything is. We also leaned a lot more at what went on during WWII ... This is a Must See and get ready to spend several hours there ... it's worth your time.
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to the museum. It's definitely a large museum, which is why the tickets are good for a full 48 hours! We thank you for visiting and hope to see you again soon!
Written 20 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg

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