Springfield, Ill (WAND) – With Veteran’s Day commemorating the end of World War I the Illinois State Military Museum provides great history lessons for kids and adults.
“Our main focus is to tell the story of the citizen soldier,” said Bill Lear, museum curator. “Here at the museum we focus on World War I a lot. We do a great war encampment every year and to tell the story of the citizen soldier during the first really great war.”
Museum artifacts focus on the Illinois National Guard and Illinois Militia. Items date back to the Civil War with a board Abe Lincoln used for target shooting. There is also an extensive collection of World War II related items.
“A German helmet, a pistol and MP40 which is a German machine gun,” Lear stated. “There’s a pair of binoculars. But they’re Chinese binoculars that were taken by the Japanese.” Chinese were treated harshly by Japanese troops during the war.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1pm – 4:30pm. Admission and parking are free.
