THE MISSION
CURRENTLY ON VIEW - Kilroy Was Here: From the Greatest Generation to Modern Day Heroes
This exhibition traces the Virginia National Guard’s evolution from D-Day (June 6, 1944) to the present, highlighting a continuous legacy of selfless service.
CURRENTLY ON VIEW - A Stolen Pistol Returns
Manufactured in early 1918, this .45-caliber M1911 pistol was originally issued to the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Regiment but went missing in March 1940. Nearly 70 years later, police near San Antonio, Texas recovered the pistol and its 7-round magazine during a raid.
INVIGORATE, EDUCATE, AND FORTIFY
The Museum of the Virginia National Guard invigorates, educates, and fortifies military personnel, veterans, and civilians by bringing to life the Virginia National Guard’s 400+ years of service protecting and defending Virginia and America, both at home and abroad.
WHAT WE DO
While the new public museum is being built in Richmond, the museum operates from the Defense Supply Center Richmond, offering permanent and rotating exhibitions.
Using its collections, spanning from Virginia Indigenous histories to modern military operations, the museum reinforces esprit de corps by recognizing Virginia Guardsmen’s and Airmen’s individual and collective contributions throughout historical events and today’s missions.
The museum also produces digital and traveling exhibitions to engage broader audiences beyond Central Virginia and to foster partnerships with other educational institutions.
THE CHALLENGE
CURRENTLY ON VIEW - Joint Force Headquarters Rotating Displays
Since the mid-1980s, the museum staff has installed exhibitions in Guard armories and workplaces, but these limited spaces cannot showcase the National Guard’s comprehensive history, and most Virginians cannot access these military sites.
LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS
Because the museum operates on a restricted military installation in Richmond, most of the public is unable to access the exhibitions, artifacts, and educational resources we produce.
THE SOLUTION
We are planning a public museum in Richmond that will ensure all Virginians, whether military or civilian, can gain a deeper understanding of the sacrifices and contributions of the Commonwealth’s Citizen Soldiers in shaping our nation.
THE FUTURE
BUILDING THE MUSEUM
On November 13, 2024, the Adjutant General of Virginia, Major General James W. Ring, announced that the future Museum of the Virginia National Guard will be constructed at S. Gardner Waller Depot in Richmond, Virginia.
Join us in the challenge to honor and strengthen Virginia’s citizen soldiers and airmen from the past, present, and future as true cornerstones of American history!
WHY WALLER DEPOT?
Throughout the site selection process, some of the top evaluation criteria were:
the potential for public access,
local tourism and museum data,
cost to improve existing facilities or construct new ones, and
proximity to Virginia National Guard headquarters and the museum staff’s central operations in Richmond.