Introduction

Although the afternoon was waning, we headed out to Fort Eustis, which is exit 250 off I-64, about 10 miles east of Williamsburg. This six-acre park and one large building sit just inside the gates of Fort Eustis, an active military base and our last stop before heading to Fort Monroe, the Hotel Chamberlain, and the Borodino 2002 Napoleonic Conference.

Base security remains a strange combination of extra vigilant and strangely loose. Prior to 9/11/2001, you could pretty much drive up to any Army base gate, say you're going to the on-base museum, and in you went. For a while after 9/11, the US Government shut down all access to bases. Now, they have allowed access back onto the base. However, at Fort Eustis you pull over into a small parking lot, walk inside to present your driver's license (which is recorded), say you're going to the on-base museum, and in you go.

I was somewhat dreading an inspection, as the trunk of my car was filled with boxes of magazines, computer equipment and so forth for the Borodino conference. But no one wanted to check my trunk. I received a Visitor's Pass from the Provost Marshal, got back in the car, drove up to the gate, presented said pass, and in I went. I suppose I am now logged into an Army database of some sort, which has been forwarded to FBI, CIA, INS, and Homeland Security. The way the national debt is increasing, they'll probably sell it to a telemarketer.

Just before you enter the museum, there's a sign announcing that backpacks and other large bags are taboo inside the museum. Back I went to the car to leave my camera bag. I should point out the museum contains five main areas: the building and four outdoor sections: marine park, railroad park, aviation pavilion, and cargo handling yard.

This photo came from the front of the museum brochure, although I don't recall seeing the actual machine. Although I can't exactly tell from the photo, I assume the feet are strapped onto the platform, otherwise I could imagine that the vibration from flying would dislocate the pilot into the whirling blades below.

All told, about 100 vehicles are inside and outside. I do want to correct an obvious mistake I found in the Fodor's Guide (2001). It lists the museum having WWII and Korean War tanks that can be viewed inside and out. At the time of my visit, September 4, 2002, there were no tanks or other armored fighting vehicles except for the armored truck "Eve of Destruction." Nor did I see any place where they would have been displayed. As for going "inside a tank," all the vehicles on display outside had signs saying "Keep Off!"

More Fort Eustus US Army Transportation Museum

Introduction
Museum Building
Railroad Park
Cargo Handling Yard
Aviation Pavilion
Marine Park
Summary

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