A historic victory for an extraordinary aircraft.![]()
![]()
The American Heritage Museum’s PBY-5A Catalina, BuNo 2459, has been named the World War II Grand Champion Warbird at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. American Aero Services also received the prestigious Golden Wrench Award for its remarkable seven-year restoration.![]()
![]()
Discover the story behind this historic achievement and the dedicated team that returned the world’s highest-scoring anti-submarine aircraft to the sky.![]()
![]()
Read the full story at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/2026/07/american-heritage-museums-historic-pby-5a-catalina-wins-wo...![]()
![]()
Photos: Al Sauer, Jim Harley, Doug Birkey
America’s Tank Demo Weekend starts today at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA! See our WWII tanks in operation along with our new Cold War Era tanks for their first running display! See the M4 Sherman, M5 Stuart, M24 Chaffee, and M36 Jackson along with the M41 Walker Bulldog, M47 Patton, M60 Main Battle Tank, M88 Recovery Vehicle, and the M60A2. Gates open at 9am and live demos at 11am and 2pm. Lots to see and do - all three museum buildings are open, and speakers in the main museum on tank topics all day. Buy tickets and get info at the link in our bio or at americanheritagemuseum.org. #americanheritagemuseum #visitma #tanks #worldoftanks #hudsonma
If you haven't already had a chance to see our PBY-5A Catalina at EAA AirVenture, there's still time! Come on out and pay us a visit before the show is over!![]()
![]()
#AmericanHeritageMuseum #WWIIHistory #PBY #eaa #osh
This Weekend! America's Tank Demo Weekend - Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th! Learn More: ahmus.me/atdw2026 - Here's a sneak preview of the incredible new Cold War Era tanks that will be featured including the new M41 Walker Bulldog, M47 Patton, M60 Main Battle Tank, and M88 Recovery Vehicle and M60A2. These will be joined by our WWII tanks: M5 Stuart, M4 Sherman, M24 Chaffee, and M36 Jackson! You don't want to miss it! Get Tickets at ahmus.me/atdw2026
Rounding out our Cold War era tanks that will be on the roll for America’s Tank Demo Weekend on July 25-26, 2026 this weekend - the last light tank designed by the U.S., the M41 Walker Bulldog. Though we have an M41 in the Vietnam Gallery, this second operational example is a great addition to our operational tank lineup… more info on the event at the link in our bio or at: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/americas-tank-demo-weekend-july/ ![]()
![]()
The M41 Walker Bulldog was developed in the late 1940s to replace the aging M24 Chaffee and provide the U.S. Army with a faster, more heavily armed light tank for reconnaissance and airborne support missions. Entering service in 1951, the M41 featured a high-speed gasoline engine, torsion bar suspension, and a powerful 76mm gun capable of engaging both enemy armor and fortified positions. Named in honor of General Walton H. Walker, who was killed during the Korean War, the tank combined mobility, firepower, and reliability, making it one of the most capable light tanks of its era. Although it saw only limited combat with U.S. forces, the M41 was widely exported through American military assistance programs and served with dozens of allied nations for decades. It participated in conflicts throughout Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, with many countries modernizing the design long after its retirement from U.S. service. Today, the M41 remains one of the most recognizable and successful light tanks of the Cold War. #m41 #walkerbulldog #tanks #worldoftanks #tankmuseum
Take a Ride on the Rare M36 Jackson World War II Tank Destroyer at the American Heritage Museum!
Coming in May 2023, the American Heritage Museum is excited to offer a new World War II Tank Ride Experience aboard the rare M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer! Currently under restoration, the M36 Jackson will look like it just rolled off the factory floor in 1944! Based on the reliable M4 Sherman chassis and drivetrain and equipped with a formidable 90mm gun in an open turret for crew, the M36 rolled through the European Theater in 1944, capable of taking out the menacing German Panther and Tiger tanks.
Tank rides on the M36 Jackson are a tax-deductible donation of $195.00 per person and up to five (5) passengers may ride along. There are four (4) standing positions in the open top turret and one (1) seated position in the hull gunner seat. The ride experience is 10 minutes on the tank driving grounds at the American Heritage Museum and all riders must be at least 5′ tall (60 inches) to participate.
Ride experiences are being offered on select weekends through the summer. Please click the button below for schedules and online booking. Please feel free to call us at 978-562-9182 with any questions.
For safety, all participants must be at least 5′ tall to ride. Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult on rides if they meet the height requirement.
Click on this item below to book your M36 Jackson Tank Ride Experience and see our upcoming ride day schedule
A Great Present for a History Lover: Gift Certificates Available!
Looking to give an authentic World War II tank ride as a gift for the history fan or tank lover in your life? We have digital gift certificates available for immediate giving, purchased online! Tank Ride Gift Certificates are open ended and allow the recipient to schedule their own ride experience. It’s an awesome way to give your loved one a trip back in time to 1944! Click on the item below to purchase!
Click on this item below to buy a M36 Jackson Tank Ride Experience Digital Gift Certificate
History of the M36 Jackson
The M36 Jackson was a highly effective tank destroyer used by the United States during World War II. It was designed to counter the German Panther and Tiger tanks, which had proven to be formidable opponents for the earlier American tanks.
The M36 combined the hull of the M10 tank destroyer, which used the M4 Sherman’s reliable chassis and drivetrain combined with sloped armor, and a new turret with a powerful 90mm gun, which was capable of penetrating the armor of the German tanks from a long range. The vehicle had a relatively low profile, which made it harder for the enemy to spot and target it. It also had a top speed of 45 mph, which allowed it to quickly move to strategic positions on the battlefield.
The M36 saw action in various theaters of the war, including in Europe and the Pacific. It proved to be a valuable asset to the American military, often being used in combination with other vehicles such as the M4 Sherman tank.
After the war, the M36 continued to be used by the United States in the Korean War and as an export to other nations, even being re-engined by Yugoslavia with a 500 hp Soviet-made diesel engine used in T-55. Today, the M36 Jackson is a rare sight with only a few preserved in museums and private collections.
SPECIFICATIONS
Armament: 90 mm gun M3 cannon, one .50 cal. MG
Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver)
Engine: 450 Horsepower Ford GAA, 1,100 cubic inch V-8
Range: 150 miles
