The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from April 9th is the oar mounted to the side of our German Type 166 Schwimmwagen! The Schwimmwagen is an amphibious car designed for crossing bodies of water, like ponds and rivers! The downside to this is if you break down, you can't just pull over... Thus the oar! Have you ever broken down on the water?![]()
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Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, April 16th at 10:00 am EST!![]()
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#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday
Coming up on Thursday, May 15th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm is our new History After Hours program. Our speaker for May is Jim Busha, author of "Bazooka Charlie: The Unbelievable Story of Major Charles Carpenter and Rosie the Rocketer". Busha will be speaking about how Carpenter transformed an un-armed observation airplane into one of the most effective tank-killers of WWII - a real "David vs. Goliath" story. The actual aircraft used by Carpenter will be on display as well! $20 non-members, free for AHM members with promo code (email or message for details).
History After Hours: May 15, 2025 - Maj. Charles Carpenter & "Rosie the Rocketer" with Jim Busha
www.americanheritagemuseum.org
Learn the amazing story of Maj. Charles Carpenter and his innovative strategy to take an L-4 Grasshopper observation aircraft and make it into a tank killer. A true "David & Goliath" story from World ...
Don't miss the special Speaker Series presentation by author Andrew Lawler tomorrow, Saturday, April 12th, 1pm to 2:30pm, here at the American Heritage Museum. He will discuss his book 'A Perfect Frenzy' which offers a striking new perspective on the American Revolution that reorients our understanding of its causes, highlights the radically different motivations between patriots in the North and South, and reveals the seeds of the nation’s racial divide. More information see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-a-perfect-frenzy-by-author-andrew-lawler/
What is your favorite tank gun caliber and why?![]()
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Join the conversation and share your thoughts! 💭 Each week, We're posing a question about historical military vehicles, and we want YOU to weigh in. Whether you’re a history buff, a tank enthusiast, or just curious—we want to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below to cast your vote! 👇
Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! ![]()
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Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for April 2nd is a handwheel from a machinist's lathe… see the previous post for the full details!![]()
Good luck on this week’s challenge! ![]()
#americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma
Take a Ride on the Famous Iconic Movie Star Medium Tank of WWII
The American Heritage Museum is proud to offer exciting tank rides 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 rides on the M4 Sherman are a donation of $595.00 for two (2) persons aboard the tank. One seat is in the hull gunner position and the other is a standing position in the turret. The ride experience is 10 minutes on the tank driving grounds at the American Heritage Museum.
Ride experiences are being offered in the afternoons of select weekends. 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 14 should be accompanied by an adult on rides if they meet the height requirement.
Gift Certificates Available
Looking to give a tank ride as a gift? We have presentation gift certificates available for gift giving to the tank enthusiast in your family! Tank Ride Gift Certificates are open ended and allow the recipient to schedule their own ride experience. Click here to learn more about and purchase an M4 Sherman Tank Ride Gift Certificate at this link.
Don’t Just Ride – DRIVE the M4 Sherman!
Feel like doing something even more exciting? Learn to DRIVE the M4 Sherman as part of our Tank Driving Experience Program, a one hour training and driving experience that allows you to take the controls for 20 minutes on our tank track! – Click Here to Learn more!
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
