The museum is open to the public on Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sundays from 10:00pm to 4:00pm. Private and educational tours can be scheduled with prior agreement and confirmation with the museum.
Recognizing that the tragedy of the war in southeast Asia has become comfortably distant in the minds of many Americans, this organization has embarked on a very ambitious undertaking; building a war museum that will bring the people and events of this bitter, divisive conflict to life, so that current and future generations of Americans remember the Vietnam Veterans legacy of service, sacrifice, and valor. The museum is dedicated to future Americans from local schools and youth organizations to soldiers currently defending our great nation, in the hope that everyone passing through the gates will leave with a better understanding of past and present military conflicts.
The Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum includes the first dedicated monument to Fallen Vietnam War Veterans in the state of Florida, with 167 names of men and women from Orange County, Florida. Other static displays consists of a U.S. Navy Patrol Boat River (PBR), also known as “River Rat”, Douglas A-4B Skyhawk aircraft that is currently on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida, and a Bell UH-1 (Huey) Dustoff helicopter. The existing museum center includes numerous artifacts from the Vietnam era; a room-size, to scale, firebase recreation that took approximately eleven years to complete; and recently remodeled an educational media/research room with enhanced audiovisual capabilities.
Our organizational target is to restore and preserve articles donated to the museum. Any war related artifacts that were used in the defense against terrorism or tyranny would be preserved for historic reasons. The American veterans that fought and died for freedom must never be forgotten.
Expanding the facility for displays such as the Mark II PBR boat by acquiring the lake property behind museum this display can be placed next to dock,which would give it a authenticated look and feel.
Our goal is to raise money to restore each exhibit one at a time and to expand our restrooms, expand parking lot, relocate PBR to lake area if approved by county. Build training center for Orlando Devil Dog Young Marines, add picnic area and expand the stage deck out by 20 ’to accommodate large rvolume of visitors.
1) Local company sponsors will be key contributors to this restoration project.
2) Fund raising companies might be an option as well to help raise these funds.
