It is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm CST. Admission is free. Access to Camp Mabry requires a government issued identification, such as a driver's license, passport, or common access card. Approximately 159,000 tourists visited from 1992-2007.[4]
The museum's stated mission is "to tell the story of the Texas Military Forces from 1823 through the present and into the future, support the mission of the Texas Military Forces, honor our veterans, educate our fellow citizens, promote espirit d' corps among the men and women of the Texas Military Forces, and inspire youth to serve."[5]
As of 2018, the 45,000 sqft museum has indoor and outdoor galleries featuring 24 major exhibits, which includes over 10,000 artifacts, 36 vehicles, 8 dioramas, 16 macro environments, 16 macro artifacts, and over 50 uniformed mannequins. The library and archive features over 10,000 books and 20,000 photos available for research.[5]
The Texas Military Forces Museum began in 1986 with an effort directed by Adjutant General of Texas Major General James T. Dennis and led by Brigadier General John C. L. Scribner to establish a museum and archival collection for the history of Texas Military Forces. In 1987, United States Army Center of Military History provided authorization for its location at Camp Mabry, a joint owned federal-state military installation in Austin, Texas that serves as the Texas Military Department headquarters. In 1990, Adjutant General of Texas Major General William C. Wilson designated Building 6 for its location, a mess originally constructed in 1918. It officially opened to the public on November 14, 1992.[4][6][7]
Approximately 159,000 tourists visited from 1992–2007.[4]
The museum's namesake was dedicated to Brigadier General John C. L. Scribner on February 4, 2006.[8]
From 2008–2012 the museum underwent an extensive, $6M (equivalent to $7.1 in 2018) renovation which brought the museum up to code and added exhibits.[5]
It was further renovated throughout 2019, adding a new main entrance, revised access for the Hall of Honor, and upgraded the loading docks and offices.[9]
The museum is divided into six sections, which includes four indoor galleries, one outdoor gallery, and one conference center totalling 10,000 artifacts, 36 vehicles, eight dioramas, 16 macro environments, 16 macro artifacts, and over 50 uniformed mannequins.
The museum hosts the Texas Military Department's Hall of Honor. It is both an exhibit with a digital kiosk that showcases inductee biographies, and an eponymous conference center that may be rented for conventionsorbanquets.
The Texas Military Forces Museum is funded through multiple avenues. The building, Building 6, is federally funded. Operations, including salaries and supplies, are state funded. The Texas Military Department also maintains a memorandum of agreement with the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation, a non-federal, non-profit 501(c)3 that raises funds through donations. The foundation supports the museum as requested and has no authority regarding operations, artifacts or exhibits. The museum also accepts individual donations an offers a gift shop.[10]
The museum regularly hosts reenactments, speakers, mixers, dances, and other special events that can be found on the calendar on the museum website.
It also hosts regular annual events:
Hand on History — a unique look at items kept in the vault
Battleground 1863 — a Civil War reenactment traditionally held in March that focuses on weapons, equipment, and tactics of both sides of the Civil War.
