Military buffs will enjoy the MacArthur Museum in Norfolk
04.09.2024
Built in 1847 as Norfolk City Hall, it housed city offices until 1918 and courtrooms until 1960; in 1961 the entire building was gutted to become the MacArthur Memorial; admission was free
The most interesting part of the museum was the 27 minute long video about MacArthur's life; the 9 galleries in the museum about his life and career were quite dry and copy heavy
Along with his signature wheel hat and aviator sunglasses, MacArthur's third must-have was a Missouri-made corn cob pipe for strategic pointing; the Missouri Meerschaum Company still sells the MacArthur 5-Star Corn Cob Pipe ($14.89)
The rotunda of the memorial contains the tombs of Douglas and Jean MacArthur; the memorial also pays tribute to the men and women who served with General MacArthur in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War
I suppose even the toughest military men have embarrassing baby photos; from 1919 to 1922, MacArthur served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Japanese cloisone vase, now known as the MacArthur Vase, was presented to MacArthur by the potter in 1946; as the effective ruler of Japan, MacArthur oversaw its occupation from 1945-1951 and implemented sweeping economic, political and social changes
MacArthur was First Captain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated top of the class of 1903; he was also valedictorian at the West Texas Military Academy where he finished high school
West Texas Military Academy (known as West Point on the Rio Grande) is now TMI Episcopal which is a coed college prep school; famous alums include Dan Blocker (Bonanza) and John Armstrong (manager of King Ranch)
MacArthur received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines campaign (he and his father are the only father-son pair so honored); this silver tray was given to MacArthur in 1937 by the Philippine president
The general's father was Arthur MacArthur, an army officer and a Union hero of the Civil War, while his mom (Pinky) was the daughter of a cotton merchant from Norfolk (during the Civil War, her brothers fought for the Confederacy)
Japanese teapot given to MacArthur; unlike in Germany, where the Allies had in May 1945 abolished the German state, the Americans chose to allow the Japanese state to continue to exist under Emperor Hirohito, albeit under their ultimate control
This 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine served as General MacArthur's staff car from late 1950 until 1963; nearly every driver of this car carved his initials into the dashboard
Posted by VagabondCowboy 06:27
