"In all of the far-flung operations of our Armed Forces, the toughest job has been performed by the average, easy-going, hard-fighting young American who carries the weight of battle on his own young shoulders. It is to him that we and all future generations must pay grateful tribute"

                                                                           Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The Miami Valley Military History Museum (MVMHM) was established to preserve the history of the men and women who served and continue to serve our nation and perpetuate their memory by making their history available to the public.

Our goals are:

Perpetuate and preserve the memory of the veterans of our Armed Forces past, present, and future

Establish a permanent military history museum as a repository for artifacts and research materials

Collect, organize, and preserve collections of United States and foreign military artifacts

Highlight the military history of local communities and the state of Ohio

Provide traveling museum displays for civic, fraternal, and veteran's organizations.

Establish traveling educational programs for schools to educate and inspire succeeding generations in military history

Stage educational programs to give the public a better understanding of the Armed Forces in the history of our country

Establish special exhibits to encourage interest from a wider audience

Create and distribute publications and documents

Establish a volunteer lecturer program

Foster patriotism and respect for veterans

Our displays begin with the history of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (commonly called the "Soldiers Home" which is now the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center), and continue through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and Operations DESERT STORM, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM (in time, we hope to open displays covering the Civil War and the Spanish-American War). All ranks and branches of the service are represented - you'll have the opportunity to see artifacts belonging to privates and generals alike, as well as relics from the opposing side in each conflict. For those interested in World War II, one of our prized artifacts on display is an actual piece of the battleship USS Arizona, generously donated by the United States Navy. Listen to authentic WWII news broadcasts in our Home Front display, or you can enjoy the Armed Forces Vietnam radio shows playing through a field phone. Do you know how heavy a flak jacket is? We've got one waiting for you to try on! The next time you're in Dayton, stop by and join us in remembering those who have served in defense of liberty - a place where our veterans are welcomed and honored!

The Miami Valley Military History Museum is hosted by the American Veterans Heritage Center (a 501c3 organization), located in Building 120, the historic Putnam Library, in the Historic District of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. Please note that although we are located on federal property, we receive NO funding from the Veterans Administration - we operate entirely "out of our own pockets" and with the help of unpaid volunteers.