The National Infantry Museum
4.9(7.4K)google
4.7(136)yelp
HistoryMilitaryEducationalInteractive
Overview
The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is a museum located in Columbus, Georgia, United States, just outside the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. The 190,000-square-foot (18,000 m2) museum opened in June 2009. The museum chronicles the history of the United States Army Infantry from the American Revolution to current operations.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThis world-class fully indoor military sanctuary is stellar year-round, but arriving right at the 9:00 AM opening during May or November (near Veterans Day) offers the ultimate experience. Begin your march inside the monumental, multi-story 'The Last Hundred Yards' immersive ramp combat gallery under cinematic display spotlights. By 11:30 AM, step outside onto the historic 'WWII Company Street' when high mid-afternoon sun beautifully brightens the authentic barracks and military jeeps.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned right outside the gates of Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) in Columbus at 1775 Legacy Way. Driving is remarkably seamless: cruise along Interstate 185 South to Exit 1B, merge onto US-27 South (Victory Drive), and follow the grand dedicated overpass onto Legacy Way straight into a massive, complimentary public surface lot. For transit users, board the METRA Route 9 bus from downtown Columbus, which stops at the plaza.
Travel Tips
- Museum entry is free via suggested donation, but elite combat tactical simulators—including M4 carbine and Humvee modules—require separate tickets; reserve your specific operation hour at the main desk immediately upon entry.
- The complex directly borders the active Fort Moore army installation, causing commercial GPS configurations to occasionally misroute sedans into heavily armed federal checkpoint gates; remain explicitly on public access vectors.
- Spanning a massive 190,000 square feet indoors alongside expansive multi-mile outdoor World War Heritage walking tracks, this museum mandates heavy foot travel; open sandals or dress shoes will cause immediate muscle fatigue.
Reviews
Positive
- A world-class military museum with deeply impactful displays of infantry history from the Revolution to modern combat, enhanced by a great IMAX theater.
- The museum is grand in scale, featuring clean restrooms, ample seating, and excellent wheelchair accessibility that is highly respectful to veterans.
- Admission to this massive, national-caliber museum is entirely free (donations welcome), offering unbeatable value that is well worth a two-hour drive.
- The outdoor Inouye Patriot Park and authentic WWII barracks are historically immersive, perfectly managed, and excellent for educational heritage.
Heads up
- Because the complex is massive and filled with artifacts, a thorough visit takes 5-6 hours, which can cause severe foot fatigue without frequent bench rests.
- Secondary experiences like combat simulators, shooting ranges, and IMAX movies require extra, relatively expensive tickets, raising total costs.
- Dining choices inside are limited to a single casual American restaurant, which gets completely overwhelmed with long lines during Fort Moore graduation days.
- While close to the army base, it is a distance from downtown Columbus, making it tricky to access via public transit if you don't have your own vehicle.