War Museum reopens with new exhibits after month of remodeling
Mar. 2—DANVILLE — The Vermilion County War Museum will be re-opening on Saturday, March 2, following remodeling.
Several new exhibits, spaces and rooms will be open. Those include a Media/Technology Center which features an area for recording videos with veterans, an 85-inch TV screen for videos, research and historical programming, a library and displays.
The Medal of Honor Hall is now complete with uniforms like those worn by each of the local recipients, storyboards and displays.
A new downstairs display area is also open with new exhibits and a coffee bar for visitors, volunteers and veterans. Painting and "freshening" has been completed in many areas of the museum as well.
A new World War II Jeep desk is at the sign-in area for visitors downstairs. Various displays have been changed or updated throughout the museum.
War Museum Vice President Larry Weatherford said, "We think that visitors will like the new look and feel of the museum and enjoy learning about and seeing all our new items and displays. We also have plans for a soon-to-be constructed interactive children's area. That should be in place by late spring or early summer."
Curator Ron Bolser said, "An open house to commemorate and celebrate our 25th Anniversary is being planned for later in the year. The War Museum opened on Veterans Day of 1999. Special observances of military holidays are also planned throughout the year."
A special week will be from March 25 through March 29, which starts with Medal of Honor Day and continues through Vietnam Veterans Day.
The Vermilion County War Museum is located at 307 N. Vermilion St. in Danville. The 14,000-square-foot building was originally Danville's Carnegie Library.
Museum President Jim Kouzmanoff reminds visitors that hours are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
"We do have openings for volunteers in various areas. You can call 217-431-0034 or stop by the museum for details," Kouzmanoff said.
