The American Heritage Museum is open today! Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Open 10am to 5pm.
Hello all good people! The American Heritage Museum will be open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 20th, 10am to 5pm. We are looking forward to seeing you soon.
The American Heritage Museum is excited to announce the launch of a new restoration project aimed at restoring a rare and historically significant piece of original World War II armor: the Type 97 Tankette “Te Ke,” used by the Imperial Japanese Army.![]()
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Read the full article at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/2025/01/rare-japanese-type-97-tankette-te-ke-restoration-project-b...![]()
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The Type 97 Tankette was a light armored vehicle developed and employed by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Introduced in 1938, the Te-Ke was designed as a reconnaissance and infantry support vehicle, embodying Japan’s focus on lightweight, mobile forces. ![]()
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The Type 97 Tankette was powered by a 65 horsepower, inline 4-cylinder diesel engine, giving it a top speed of around 26 mph. It featured a two-man crew: a driver and a gunner/commander. Armament included either a 37 mm Type 94 tank gun or a 7.7 mm Type 97 machine gun, making it effective against lightly fortified positions and infantry but inadequate against heavier tanks.![]()
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Our particular project vehicle has been determined to be a variant of the Te-Ke that was specifically designed as a gas scattering vehicle to either deploy chemical agents such as mustard gas or other chemical agents offensively or similarly scatter agents to counter poison gasses defensively. Vehicles in this role carried their scattering agents in a towed tracked trailer and though we do not have one of these trailers, we are actively looking for one to add to the restoration.![]()
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The rare Type 97 Tankette will be restored at the American Heritage Museum by our restoration team over the next 3-4 years and will include a full overhaul of the original and rare Ikegai air-cooled diesel engine that is part of the project. We intend to restore it to operational configuration as a running tank and it will eventually become part of an enhanced exhibit documenting the years leading up to World War II. The restoration team is seeking any technical materials, drawings, or documentation of the Type 97 Tankette type – so if you have any resources to assist, please email us at admin@americanheritagemuseum.org
A huge THANK YOU to our hardy re-enactors, dedicated volunteers, and enthusiastic guests for braving the cold and muddy conditions this past weekend for the Battle of the Bulge History Experience! This was our first cold weather outdoor experience and we were happy to welcome so many visitors who took part, deploying in the M3 Half Tracks to our slice of the Ardennes Forest! Please enjoy a selection of photos from Warren Disbrow and Roland Brooks from the weekend! Let us know if you think we should plan another in 2025! #AmericanHeritageMuseum #battleofthebulge #tanklife #WWII #worldwar2 #WorldWarII #WorldWarIIHistory #1944 #visitma #hudsonma
Looking for an adventure with the kids during school break? Come visit us at the American Heritage Museum! We are open today (Monday 12/30) and tomorrow (Tuesday 12/31), 10am to 5pm. Fun activities and Jim will have the game board set up.
The William A. “Bill” Eagleson Society
A B-24 Liberator bombardier serving with the 453rd Bomb Group in World War II, William A. “Bill” Eagleson, was one of the earliest volunteers with the Collings Foundation back in the 1980’s. When the foundation acquired the B-24 Liberator project in 1986, Bill was one of a handful of local veterans who dedicated an enormous amount of time in the restoration of the aircraft which was originally intended to be a non-flying display only. Bill understood that the legacy of the veterans who flew and fought over the skies of Europe and the Pacific would only be remembered through the preservation of the B-24 and campaigned to not only restore the aircraft, but restore it to airworthy condition so it could be brought to all corners of the United States to educate future generations about the sacrifices of our World War II veterans. He was determined to develop and support the living history programs of the Collings Foundation to keep the heritage of he and his fellow veterans alive well past his own lifetime. As a result, Bill became the first of the Dedicated Crew of the B-24 Liberator… a leadership giving level that spearheaded the restoration back to flying condition.
What he helped us to start many decades ago with the B-24 Liberator has evolved into the American Heritage Museum that you see today.
Though Bill Eagleson passed in October 2007, his spirit and dedication lives on as the American Heritage Museum grows and keeps his story, along with countless others, alive for future generations.
As a supporter of our mission, there is no doubt that you share that same desire as Bill… and we welcome you to join the society developed in his memory. The William A. Eagleson Society is a group of supporters who have made provisions for the American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation through their estate planning or who support the Museum’s endowment. Society members are recognized for their dedication to our future by including the American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation in their will or as a beneficiary after their passing.
Members of the William A. Eagleson Society receive recognition in the following ways:
– Listing in the Museum’s Annual Magazine & Report
– Listing on the William A. Eagleson Society wall inside the Museum and on the website
– Invitation to our annual Supporter Appreciation Luncheon
– A William A. Eagleson Society Lapel pin
How to become a member of the William A. “Bill” Eagleson Society
If you wish to become a member of the William A. “Bill” Eagleson Society, please choose from the options below. If you don’t currently have a will or trust, you can create a legally binding will for free through our partnership with FreeWill through the link below. If you already have a will or trust, you can let us know of your plans through the other link below at the right and we will contact you.
I need to create a will…If you are ready to write a will or trust, we can help through our partnership with FreeWill to create or update a will. Learn how you can support the American Heritage Museum and Collings Foundation through your will and become a member of the William A. “Bill” Eagleson Society. |
I already have a will…If you have already made or hope to make provisions in your will or trust, naming the American Heritage Museum or Collings Foundation as part of your legacy plans, please fill out the form at this link powered by FreeWill to become a a member of the William A. “Bill” Eagleson Society. |
Questions? Reach out to us.
If you have any questions about membership to the society, please contact Ryan Keough, Director of Development at rkeough@americanheritagemuseum.org or call 978-562-9182 x203.
