Much to see, appreciate & revere at the Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center

Americans born in the '20s, ‘30s, ‘40s & ‘50s are probably gonna remember how cool it was to step inside a ‘20s-style wooden PHONE BOOTH, close the door to the outside world, if just for a few minutes, to make a 10-cent phone call.  Or maybe these same folks remember the PADDY WAGON, circa 1917, used by police departments at the time to transport mostly miscreants to and from jail.  Or how ‘bout a 1943  MOVIE POSTER touting “Fightin’ Seabees,” starring John Wayne and Susan Hayward.  Or a FOOT PUMP ORGAN built in 1846.

Well, that aforesaid phone booth, paddy wagon, movie poster and foot pump organ, plus much, much more, is actually on display at the Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center in Anderson, California, which is filled to the brim with historical military artifacts, such as a photo of Private First Class (PFC) George Guckenburger, of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, taking a cigarette break during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge.

Founded in 2008 by Senior Chief Rob Burroughs, US Navy Seabees (retired), the Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving America’s rich military history, including the service of its citizens from every branch of service.  The NCVM&HC mission is to collect and preserve artifacts and histories, some of which may not be seen anywhere else, from all periods of conflict in which Americans have served the United States of America.

The Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center has a research library containing military texts, field and technical manuals, war documents, biographies/autobiographies, and some of the best books on war and peace, dating back to the Revolutionary War in the late 1700s.  It has authentically restored military vehicles, aircraft, and military memorabilia from the Revolutionary War to the current conflict.

“War forever changes the lives of those that are in it and for those that are left behind waiting for their loved ones to come home,” said Museum CEO Burroughs, “and here at the Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center, we attempt to capture and record some semblance of those memories that common people recall about the most uncommon of times,” Burroughs added.

As a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for public education, not supported by local, state, or federal taxes, the Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center survives solely on the donations of its patrons to help keep the doors open, keep Veterans’ programs funded, and preserve artifacts for display.  Donations can be made through www.norcalveteransmuseum.org, the PayPal button, or by mail to PO Box 87, Anderson, California, 96007. 

The Northern California Veterans Museum & Heritage Center is open Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m., and Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Special tours can be arranged by calling 530-378-2280.