Nevada is definitely home to a plethora of fascinating museums, from collections of neon signs to vintage automobiles. Simply put, there is a lot of history and unique items that are just waiting to be discovered. In fact, there’s one museum in our state that most people don’t even know exists. Boasting a massive collection of wartime artifacts and heavy artillery, this military museum is an amazing place for history and war enthusiasts. You’ll want to check it out pronto so keep reading to learn all about it.

Military buffs will be thrilled to find out that there’s a little museum that’s dedicated solely to preserving all-things-military. The Hawthorne Ordnance Museum is a true hidden gem and you’ll find it at 925 E. Street Hawthorne, NV 89415.

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This museum may look small, but it’s chock full of fascinating history. The locally run museum specializes in collecting old military weapons, from the smallest bits of ammunition to gigantic warheads.

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Hawthorne is the perfect location of this military-centric museum. In 1926, a U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot in New Jersey exploded and killed 21 people in the vicinity. This caused the Navy to start searching for a less populated location to stockpile ammunition. That location was Hawthorne.

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The Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot was built in 1930 and quickly made a name for itself as the largest ammunitions depot in the world. The town itself took great pride in this fact and even started calling Hawthorne “America’s Patriotic Home.”

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Today, the museum acts as a place that visitors can come to learn more about the town’s patriotic past. Featuring an impressive collection of war artifacts, it’s absolute heaven for any history lover.

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Perusing the museum is definitely a unique experience. After all, it’s not very often you get to see these types of items up close. Some displays and exhibits feature ammunition that dates back to the early 20th century.

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The museum is also home to a variety of displays that show off classic military uniforms, old photographs, newspaper clippings, and vintage memorabilia. Walking through the museum almost feels like walking into a time capsule of a different era.

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Admission into the Hawthorne Ordnance Museum is completely free and makes for an interesting way to spend the afternoon. Travel back in time and learn all about Hawthorne’s patriotic past by visiting this museum soon. It’s open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Hawthorne Ordnance Museum/Facebook

Did you know this military museum existed? It’s places like this that remind us that our state is full of unique treasures. Check out our list of 10 Museums In Nevada That Are Just Too Weird For Words for more one-of-a-kind destinations.

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Address: 925 E. Street Hawthorne, NV 89415