FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Fort Campbell’s new, expansive Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum will celebrate its grand opening on May 15 to coincide with the Week of the Eagles. This announcement was made by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, in partnership with the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation and the Center of Military History.
“This project has been years-in-the-making, and we are certain it will not disappoint,” said Jonathan Hunter, Chief Operating Officer for the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation. The new building is four times the size of Fort Campbell’s old museum and offers immersive and interactive experiences for all ages, according to a news release from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs.
The entrance to the new museum is located at the intersection of Tiny Town Road and Fort Campbell Boulevard in Clarksville, Tennessee outside the installation gates, making it fully accessible to all visitors with or without a military ID. The doors will be open to the public at 1 p.m. on May 15, admission is free.
What to expect from the Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum
The 50,000-square-foot museum, situated on a 33-acre campus, showcases the legacy of Fort Campbell’s most storied units in military history, including the 101st Airborne Division, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the 5th Group Special Forces Group, and other tenant divisions, according to a news release from Visit Clarksville. Exhibits highlight campaigns including World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Global War on Terrorism and current ongoing operations.
The museum will include interactive exhibits inside, as well as aircraft and a memorial courtyard outside.
Efforts to create the museum have been ongoing for decades, with fundraising taking the bulk of that time. The museum is a public-private partnership made possible by $20 million in funding from the State of Tennessee, along with funding from Montgomery County, the City of Clarksville, and private donors.
Week of the Eagles events at Fort Campbell
The opening of the new museum marks the start of this year’s annual Week of the Eagles celebration on Fort Campbell. First held in 1974, Week of the Eagles honors the legacy and heritage of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and involves both Veterans and current Soldiers of the Division, says a news release. This year’s Week of the Eagles is dedicated to the Division’s Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veterans, celebrating the 35th anniversary of their successful liberation of Kuwait in 1991.
This year’s Week of the Eagles will feature several festive events, from sporting tournaments, Soldier skills competitions, military demonstrations and static displays, ceremonies, and Soldier-Veteran reunions.
Major events open to the public include:
- Division Run – May 15, 6:30 am to 8 am.
- Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum Grand Opening – May 15, 1 pm.
- Army Parachute Team Demonstration – May 16, 9:30 am.
- 101st Airborne Division Air Assault Demonstration – May 16, 10 am.
- Sporting events and unit open houses – May 18 through 21, 9 am to 5 pm.
For a full list of events, visit home.army.mil/campbell/week-of-the-eagles. For Week of the Eagles updates please visit facebook.com/101st.
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