Grand Reopening at the National Museum of the Pacific War
Fredericksburg, TX –The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), a Smithsonian Affiliate accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, will celebrate the grand reopening of its principal exhibition space, the George H. W. Bush Gallery, on Saturday, December 6. The gallery has undergone its first comprehensive renovation since opening in 2009. The day will feature a public ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by free admission across the Museum campus.
The ceremony will feature remarks from George P. Bush, former Texas Land Commissioner and grandson of President George H. W. Bush. A Navy Reserve veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Bush has been an advocate for Texas veterans’ services, historic preservation, and military heritage initiatives, aligning closely with the Museum’s mission to honor and interpret the legacy of the Pacific War.
“The Bush Gallery sets a new standard for how we tell the story of the Pacific War,” said Rorie Cartier, President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. “This renovation reflects our mission To foster responsible citizenship and leadership by inspiring all ages with our collection and the enduring relevance of the stories from the Pacific War. With new opportunities to engage across generations, we’re excited to welcome visitors back to a gallery where history isn’t just displayed, it’s experienced.”
The renewed Bush Gallery offers an engaging chronological journey through the Asiatic-Pacific theater with redesigned wayfinding, updated interpretive narratives, and hundreds of never-before-seen artifacts.Dynamic media, tactile interactives, and personal accounts bring the history to life and deepen visitor connection to the stories represented.
“When the gallery first opened in 2009, many WWII veterans were still visiting in person. Today’s audiences expect different tools for learning,” said Nicole Bagley, Director of Collections & Exhibits. “We reconsidered every wall, floor, and case to improve clarity, simplify navigation, and create meaningful entry points for visitors of all ages.”
What’s New
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A complete gallery re-layout that follows the chronology of the Pacific War with clear sightlines and accessible navigation.
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Immersive storytelling brought to life through nine virtual characters, tactile experiences, interactive games, and vivid environmental design that connect visitors to the human stories of the Pacific War.
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The Relevance Gallery — the final exhibit, where guests can reflect on what they’ve learned and engage with moral questions about the war. Responses are collected through interactive polls and displayed in real time by demographic groups, encouraging dialogue and perspective-sharing.
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Brighter design and lighting that enhance artifact visibility and improve overall visitor comfort.
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Never-before-seen artifacts that tell unique personal stories of the Pacific War.
Grand Reopening Day Details — Saturday, December 6
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10:00–10:30 a.m.: Public ribbon-cutting ceremony with remarks from George P. Bush in front of the George H. W. Bush Gallery
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All day: Free admission across the Museum campus, including the Admiral Nimitz Gallery, Pacific Combat Zone exhibits, the Submarine Exhibit, and The Rescue immersive experience (timed entry, limited capacity)
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Location: National Museum of the Pacific War, 311 E. Austin St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624
About the Admiral Nimitz Foundation
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) Texas Corporation to provide additional development funding for the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum, a museum honoring Fredericksburg’s native son and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces, Pacific Ocean Area. The sole purpose of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation is to raise funds for the National Museum of the Pacific War and to manage its operation.
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.