Plan your visit to the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, GA. Get hours, free admission details, must-see exhibits and tips for making the most of your trip.

Welcome to the National Infantry Museum

When you plan your trip to Columbus, Georgia, one of the best things to incorporate into your weekend is the National Infantry Museum. This award winning museum was built to honor the story of the American soldier, and brings in an average of three million visitors a year.

At the National Infantry Museum, admission is always free. A suggested donation is provided at the entrance, but is not required to enter. Once you’re on site, plan about three hours to ensure you are able to fully experience everything this incredible museum has to offer.

In this guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know to explore their complete history of the United State Infantry including the museum’s hours, simulator information, and permanent exhibitions. We’ll even include some of our best tips for planning your trip!

Getting to Know the National Infantry Museum

You’ll find the National Infantry Museum at 1775 Legacy Way, just outside of Fort Benning. The museum and solider center opened in June of 2009 and is housed on a 155-acre campus that includes the museum, a selection of dedicated outdoor memorials, graduation field, Giant Screen Theatre, and more. Their mission is to honor infantry soldiers across American history from the Revolutionary War to present day. The army’s rich heritage is on display across the entire campus, and it’s common to find soldiers on site every day.

Since its opening in 2009, the National Infantry Museum has garnered major recognition. It has been named USA Today’s Best Free Museum many times over, and one of CNN Travel’s 21 Best Military Museums in the World.

National Infantry Museum Hours and Admission

Hours:

• Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Closed on Mondays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
• Hours may be subject to change on holidays. Please reach out to the museum to confirm their hours if you are traveling over a holiday.

Parking:

Parking is free, with accessible spaces at the front entrance.

Admission and Additional Costs:

Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 per person but The Giant Screen Theatre and Virtual Reality Simulators carry separate charges. The Giant Screen Theatre prices are $8-$10.

The National Infantry Museum’s Virtual Reality Center is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Virtual Reality Center Experience Prices (All Prices are Per Person)

• Shooting Range (7-minute duration) $7
• Humvee Simulation (6-minute duration) $10
• Blackhawk Simulation (6-minute duration) $10
• Paradrop Simulation (2-minute duration) $10

Bundle Deals

• Double – Pick TWO SIMS – Humvee, Blackhawk, Paradrop $15
• Triple Threat – Humvee, Blackhawk, Paradrop $25

Top Things to Do at the National Infantry Museum

The National Infantry Museum's indoor attractions include The Last 100 Yards exhibition, the era galleries spanning more than 240 years of infantry history, the Armor and Calvary Gallery, and the Giant Screen Theatre and Virtual Reality Simulators. 

Outdoors, visitors can enjoy the World War II Company Street, Vietnam Memorial Plaza with the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial and the Walk of Honor pavers. 

Must-See National Infantry Museum Exhibits

The National Infantry Museum's most famous exhibition is The Last 100 Yards. In this award winning space, a gently sloped ramp guides visitors through life-sized dioramas depicting significant battles in the Infantry’s history, including Yorktown, Antietam, Soissons, Normandy, Corregidor, Soam-Ni, LZ X-Ray, and Iraq. The ramp begins with the Battle of Yorktown in the American Revolution charging Redoubt #10 with Alexander Hamilton. From the first step onto the ramp, guests are transported into life-life scenes from the most important battles the Infantry has ever fought. 

Another highlight is the Armor and Calvary Gallery. This new, 3,500-square-foot gallery honors the Infantryman’s brothers in arms: those who’ve served in Armored and Cavalry regiments. Expect to see the gallery walls lined with fascinating information about the Armor and Calvary's greatest battles from the American Revolution until 1950 when the military created the Armor Branch. Visitors will trace this hiostry through a mix of actual combat vehicles, uniforms, soldier equipment, wall displays, and dioramas that also showcase the Armor museum collection.

Remember that The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center extends beyond the confines of the indoor museum space. When you head outdoors, you'll find Patriot Park which contains a number of large-scale displays and individual monuments. One of the most popular outdoor attractions is the World War II Company Street. In the 1940s Fort Benning expanded rapidly to accommodate the needs of the Army for World War II. Company Street encompasses one of each kind of building created during this time, and provides a life-sized look into the world of Fort Benning in the 1940s. 

Company Street is open for tours on the weekend. Sign ups are available on the day of the tour at the information desk at the main entrance to the National Infantry Museum. Tours times are Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. 

Planning Your National Infantry Museum Visit

Every visitor to the National Infantry Museum should plan to spend at least three hours on site. Manual wheelchairs and strollers are free to borrow and serve all floors. Outside food and drink are not allowed inside, but there is a concessions stand at the Giant Screen Theatre that sells pizza, popcorn and drinks.

Before you plan your visit, please check our event calendar to see if there are any speical events happening during your stay. Still need lodging? You'll find links to every available accommodation in the area here.

National Infantry Museum Visitor Information and Tips

Our team at VisitColumbusGA always recommends every visitor to the National Infantry Museum start at The Last 100 Yards and walk down through each of the eras galleries. If you can, catch an orientation hosted by a volunteer before you begin exploring the museum. Information on the next orientiation time can be found at the Information Desk just inside the museum. 

We also recommend checking the event calendar before you go because graduation ceremonies tend to change crowd levels dramatically. That's not necessarily a negative thing though because there's nothing like exploring this museum next to several hundred new active duty soliders and their families! 

Definitely leave time for the outdoor memorials and World War II Company Street. Everything you see at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is unique to this site, so don't miss your chance to explore all of the exhibitions indoors and outdoors while you're in Columbus. 

Guided tours and school programs are arranged through the National Infantry Museum's Education Department, and should be scheduled in advance. 

Making the Most of Your Visit

In addition to a day at the National Infantry Museum, there are so many other ways to enjoy your trip to Columbus, Georgia. Consider pairing your trip with other popular attractions in the area. Columbus is home to numerous award winning museums including The Columbus Musuem, the National Civil War Naval Museum, and Coca-Cola Space Science Center. If you're looking for a host of exciting ways to expand your trip, check out our multitude of attractions and get to planning! 

Traveling with kids? Our tips at the National Infantry Musuem are to utilize the World War II Company Street and the virtual simulators. Both of these provide a good break from the quieter areas of the galleries, while continuing to add to their knowledge of the Infantry's history overall. If you need ideas for how to travel with kids to Columbus, we've got a wonderful list of fun things to do with kids!

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Arts / Film / Film / Film / Family-friendly / Itineraries / Trip Ideas