Last updated: 1/16/2011
Auburn, Indiana
Street Address
5634 C.R. 11AAuburn, IN 46706
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1Auburn, IN 46706
phone: 260-927-9144
fax: 260-927-8043
e-mail: info@dvkfoundation.org
web: www.militaryhistorycenter.org

Admissions

Regular Adult Admission: $10;
Seniors (ages 55 and over): $8;
Children (ages 7-12): $6;
Non-WWII Veterans and Active Military Servicepeople: $4;
WWII Veterans (with ID): Free;
Children (under age 7): Free
Special Rates are available to groups, tourgroups, senior groups, and student groups. Please call for rates and to schedule a visit time.

Staff

Bob Krafft
phone:
Tammy Hantz
phone:
Taya Krafft
phone: 260-927-9144
History

The World War II Victory Museum was established in 1999 through the generosity of its founders, the Dean V. Kruse family of Auburn, IN. The World War II Victory Museum contains one of the world's most impressive collections of artifacts from the Second World War.

The collection includes approximately 150 vehicles and hundreds of uniforms, weapons and smaller artifacts. The majority of this collection comes from the former Victory Memorial Museum that was located in Messancy, Belgium. Due to the Victory Memorial Museum's location (It was located in the Ardennes Forest region, approximately 30 miles from Bastogne, and was near areas where heavy fighting occurred during the Battle of the Bulge.) many of the pieces that are now in the collection of the World War II Victory Museum are survivors of the Battle of the Bulge.

The collection was transported from the Belgian facility of the Victory Memorial Museum to its current home in Auburn, IN during the months of October 2001 until January 2002. This impressive collection of artifacts includes many rare and, sometimes, the only known surviving examples of certain pieces.

By obtaining such an outstanding collection of artifacts, the World War II Victory Museum has a solid base upon which to build. The museum celebrated its "Grand Opening" in May 2003. However, much planning, fundraising, investment, and hard work remain to be accomplished before the museum nears the realization of its long-term goals.

Artifact Collections

The World War II Victory Museum's vehicle collection comes from the former Victory Memorial Museum that was located in Messancy, Belgium. This vehicle collection, of approximately 150 vehicles, includes eight vehicles believed to be world's unique survivors as well as numerous other types that cannot be found elsewhere in North America.
Due to the location of the former museum (in the Ardennes region), many of the vehicles in the collection are survivors of the Battle of the Bulge that were left behind by retreating German forces.
The vehicle collection represents eleven countries by manufacture and is one of the best and most diverse collections of lightly armored and soft-skinned vehicles from World War II. Museum guests will encounter everything from very early war to very late war vehicles. The quality, rarity, and diversity of the vehicle collection truly makes the World War II Victory Museum a one-of-a-kind experience.
While the cornerstone of the World War II Victory Museum's collection and holdings is its vehicle collection, the museum features many additional significant artifacts. The museum has hundreds of uniforms, many firearms, numerous works of art on paper, and scores of other artifacts from the Second World War.
These artifacts, while smaller in size than the museum's vehicles, help to relate important stories from the Second World War and add a uniquely individual and human perspective to the museum's exhibits.
The museum continues to actively seek out additional artifacts to expand and improve its collection. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting the museum and has artifacts from the war that could be used to further the museum's purposes of exhibition, education, or research, please contact the museum's curatorial staff at 260-927-9144.

Library
Access: General Public
Appointment required: No
Publications

"Salute" -- The newsletter of the WWII Victory Museum -- Quarterly
Services
Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
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