FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The U.S. Army recently awarded the National Mounted Warrior Museum’s exhibit construction contract to Building Four LLC Fabrication.
Museum officials project Phase I of the 58,000 square foot National Mounted Warrior Museum to open sometime in late 2023. Phase I of the museum features 13,000 square feet of permanent exhibit space and 7,000 square feet of temporary or opportunity exhibit space.
Future phases include an 11,000 square foot expansion of the permanent exhibit space, four large multifunctional classrooms/conference rooms, a gift shop, and offices for the NMWF and Museum staff.
“The Museum staff has spent the last three years crafting storyline and working with Steven Feldman LLC to complete the exhibit design,” Steven C. Draper, NMWM director, said. “Building Four LLC Fabrication will gather all artifacts, photographs, and text to build the exhibit cases, dioramas and panels to complete installation.”
Building Four LLC Fabrication, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a full-service exhibit and display firm, specializing in custom fabricated visual environments. Building Four has completed exhibits in several military museums throughout the United States including Atlanta History Center: Cyclorama, Fort Stewart’s 3rd Infantry Division Museum, Fort Campbell’s Don Pratt Military Museum and is currently fabricating the US Cavalry Museum at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Draper said he was happy with the progress of the museum so far.
“Awarding of the contract is a significant step in the construction of this new museum,” Draper said. “Gifting of the museum by the National Mounted Warfare Foundation was the first step,” Draper said.
The NMWM will be a state-of-the-art, 21st Century museum honoring the legacy of soldiers and units that have served on Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and the history of mounted combat in the U.S. Army.
Both the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment Museum have incorporated their collections into the NMWM. Those museums closed last year, leaving the NMWM as the only museum at Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos).
“The National Mounted Warrior Museum will be a major destination for Central Texas, with projections estimating more than 375,000 annual visitors,” said Dr. Robert S. Crouch, DBA, retired Army lieutenant colonel and Vice President National Mounted Warfare Foundation.
“It will provide new educational opportunities for our area schools and contribute to the region’s economic development,” Crouch said. “Most importantly, the museum will be a venue to appropriately recognize and honor the service of the soldiers, veterans, family members, and community members who make Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and Central Texas the ‘Great Place,’” Crouch said
The museum is located outside of Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos)’s main gate between the Marvin Leath Visitor’s Center and the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment stables and is fully accessible to the public.
Visit http://nmwfoundation.org for more information, to make a donation, or to order a memorial brick.
The National Mounted Warrior Museum is part of the U.S. Army Museum Enterprise. The AME is a directorate within the U.S. Army Center of Military History and manages Army museums at 26 locations throughout the United States, Korea and Germany.
For more information about the U.S. Army Center of Military History, The Army Museum Enterprise or for media queries please contact the CMH Public Affairs Officer, F. Lee Reynolds, at francis.l.reynolds.civ@army.mil or (202) 714-1562.
