The American Heritage Museum will be open 10am to 5pm on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11th. All veterans get free admission through the weekend and Monday. We will host a special veterans day ceremony at 11am on 11/11.
WWII Veteran Bill Purple, dear friend of the Collings Foundation and American Heritage Museum, has flown his last mission into the wild blue. Hard to put together the words of how special Bill was in this short Facebook post. He is truly emblematic of "The Greatest Generation" and will be forever missed. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7pm, Friday, November 1st at Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA. There will be a short service at 10am, Saturday, November 2nd at the funeral home, with the burial at 11am at the West Street Cemetery in Petersham, MA. ![]()
www.telegram.com/story/news/2024/10/28/wwii-pilot-owner-of-l-p-athol-corp-vincent-bill-j-purple-d...
Today 2 to 3:30 at AHM - Special presentation: Journey through WWII Europe by Vern Chandler. No reservations needed. More information see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-wwii-european-tour/
Join us this Friday at the AHM, 2pm to 3:30pm, for our Speaker Series featuring Vern Chandler. A compelling talk on his epic journey through Europe as he traces the footsteps of his first cousin; Pvt. Kenneth Miller, who was killed in Germany on October 18, 1944. No reservations needed. For more information see:
Speaker Series: WWII European Tour - The American Heritage Museum
www.americanheritagemuseum.org
Join us at the American Heritage Museum for a compelling talk by Vernon Chandler on his epic journey through Europe as he traces the footsteps of his first cousin; Pvt. Kenneth Miller, who was killed ...
An incredible sight over our hangar as we wrapped up some of the set up for this weekend’s Battle for the Airfield!
Drive the Famous Iconic Movie Star Medium Tank of WWII
The American Heritage Museum is proud to offer exciting tank driving experiences in the Spring, Summer, and Fall aboard the M4 Sherman Medium tank used throughout World War II. The M4 Sherman is the iconic tank that was used in all theaters of operations, including the offensive campaign that surged toward Berlin in 1944. This M4 Sherman is also a movie star, being the star of the 1982 movie “Tank” with James Garner.
Tank driving programs on the M4 Sherman are a donation of $1495.00 per driving participant aboard the tank for a one hour training experience that includes ground instruction, startup, driving instruction with our instructor, and YOU drive the M4 Sherman for 20 minutes on our tank driving grounds at the American Heritage Museum. If you would like to add an additional rider in the turret during your driving experience, please add a $195 donation to your booking. Most of the cost of the driving program is considered a tax-deductible contribution.
Watch a Video on the M4 Driving Experience
Book Your M4 Sherman Tank Driving Experience Today!
Tank driving experiences on the M4 Sherman are being offered in the mornings of select weekends through the season. Please click the button below for schedules and online booking. We can also accommodate custom tank driving slots during weekdays when available – call us at 978-562-9182 to inquire about weekday driving reservations.
For safety, all driving participants should be 16 years of age or older and be at least 5′ 2″ tall and have good physical strength to drive. Any additional riders in the turret must be at least 5′ tall to ride. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult in the turret if they meet the height requirement.
Gift Certificates Available
Looking to give a tank driving experience as a gift? We have presentation gift certificates available for gift giving to the tank enthusiast in your family! Tank Driving Gift Certificates are open ended and allow the recipient to schedule their own driving experience at their convenience. Click here to learn more about and purchase an M4 Sherman Tank Driving Experience Gift Certificate at this link.
History of the M4 Sherman
One of the most produced tanks of WWII, the M4 Sherman saw its debut storming across the hot sands of North Africa in 1942, and went on to see combat in every theater. M4s could be seen everywhere, from the island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific to the dangerous hedgerows of Normandy, even fighting in the steppes of the Eastern Front. Packing a 75mm main cannon, the M4 was a strong and reliable tank on the battlefield. Through progressive upgrades the M4 remained the definitive Allied tank throughout the Second World War and into Korea. Loved by crews for its ease of use and maintenance, the M4 Sherman remains a symbol of the Liberation of Europe and a testament to the bravery of the crews that fought in them.
SPECIFICATIONS
Armament: 75mm M3 Cannon, one .50 cal. MG and 2x .30 cal. MGs.
Crew: 5, Commander, Gunner, Driver, Loader, Co-Driver.
Engine: 450 Horsepower Ford GAA, 1,100 cubic inch V-8
Range: 130 miles
