The National Museum
of the Pacific War lies in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the future US President, Theodore Roosevelt, spent much of his childhood and early adulthood. It was here that Roosevelt earned his first war scars. After being held prisoner for nearly a year in the Japanese prison camps of Bataan and Midway, Roosevelt escaped and made his way to the United States. While in San Francisco, he began to sketch out his plan for Pacific Ocean defenses.
Upon his return to the US, he presented his plans to Rear Admiral Chester Nimitz, who was then the commander of the US Pacific Fleet. Nimitz approved Roosevelt’s plan and the two formed the Pacific Theater Task Force. The Pacific Theater Task Force consisted of the Navy and the Marine Corps. It was here that Roosevelt would meet his future opponent, Japan, for the first time. The National Museum of the Pacific War, located in Fredericksburg Virginia, serves as a focal point for reenactments of this historic event.
The National Museum of the Pacific War, like many others, were built to commemorate the sacrifice made by the US military in its participation in the Second World War. It portrays both sides of the conflict. The exhibits include photographs, posters, medals, and other memorabilia. There are also life-size cutouts of particular military units. In addition, there are numerous war game units. As, well as numerous museums, the military exhibits include a naval base, a military cemetery, and a world war ii museum.
The National Museum of the Pacific War, like the other museums, was established by the United States Army. The construction of these buildings was overseen by Rear Admiral Richard F. Cassell, who was the head of the Pacific Fleet. Cassell, along with his staff, designed the museum’s layout. A brick wall, six feet tall and around thirty-eight feet wide, surrounds the structure. Around this wall are various displays and artifacts. They include maps, medals, and photographs.
As, well as these numerous exhibits, the National Museum of the Pacific War has a very impressive history. It was founded in December of 1917 and immediately began to revamp the deteriorating conditions at Pearl Harbor. In early May, it opened to the public. It is a joint effort between the United States National Museum of Natural History and the National Military Museum. The Nimitz Museum is designed especially for those taking a tour of the Pacific, while the Fredericksburg Museum and the USS Midway Museum designed for those visiting the Norfolk area, are within driving distance of the main building.
Visitors to the National Museum of the Pacific War will be amazed by the magnitude of the building. The building measures one hundred and seventy-two feet by seventy-seven feet, it is made up of five floors and the basement is fifty feet long and forty-five feet wide. Along with this impressive museum are two smaller museums, one focused on the events that happened on the Midway, and the other on the battles that took place at sea. This building houses numerous artifacts, including uniforms of both officers and crew members. The National Museum of the Pacific War even has a classroom where military students can learn about the different conflicts and how they were fought.
The Pacific War II Memorial was designed in honor of those killed in the war, as well as those who never returned. On the third floor of the museum is a plaque that reads, “In Loving Memory,” while a memorial bench sits on the second floor with an engraved stone. On this bench are the names of eleven U.S. servicemen that were killed in action during the Pacific War. It is the only national monument that commemorates all U.S. servicemen killed in the war.
A quick visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War ii reminds us that although Japan surrendered after World War II, that does not mean that the Japanese were defeated. They stayed in power for many years, until the United States came to restore Japan to respect internationally. There is a statue of Emperor Showa, which presides over the Central Museum of Japan in Tokyo, and there is a replica of the Meiji shrine in the same city. The statue of Emperor Showa has become an icon of Japan, while the replica of the Shinto temple is considered sacred ground by the Japanese. In essence, the spirit of the Japanese nation lives on through art and history museums, exhibits, and the Japanese language itself.