DETROIT (WWJ) -- It’s Detroit’s newest museum, and it isn’t easy to find. But it’s worth a visit.
The Arsenal of Democracy Museum, located in an industrial area of Detroit’s west side, is a collection of artifacts, vehicles and other memorabilia that showcase the effort it took to win World War II.
“We have the real stuff,” says museum founder John LInd. “You can feel it. You can touch it. You can smell it.”
The collection features a lot of classic vehicles, including halftracks, landing gear, jeeps and even a completely restored staff car. The walls feature newspaper clippings and signs that have a military connection.
One room features uniforms and memorabilia. All of it was donated. Some came from the personal collection of Ed Pash, a Plymouth resident.
“My grandmother, my uncle worked in all them plants. Dodge Main. The tank plant. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think we’d have won the war.”
While World War II is the central theme, there are a variety of artifacts that were from other military eras. And not all of the vehicles were made in Detroit, or even in the U.S.
You need to look for the building at 19144 Glendale, not far from the Jeffries Freeway. The neighborhood is filled with trucks and industrial sites, and the museum is nestled back from the road, in a building that once served as a factory. You know you’re there when you see a large military truck in the front, along with the fuselage of an airplane that’s being restored.
This is the third location for the museum. It was most recently in St. Clair Shores. This facility gives them a lot more room. But it took two years worth of work to get it in shape.
“It was a hot mess, to put it,” said volunteer Chris Paglecki. “We scraped the walls. We powerwashed the walls. We painted the walls. The floor we cleaned up. Then, slowly over time, we kept moving the collection in here, vehicle after vehicle, piece by piece.”
There are other buildings on site that store vehicles that could be displayed in the future, and material that’s being restored. There’s also a very large collection of fire engines, which are often used in local parades.
There is no charge to visit the Arsenal of Democracy Museum, but they do ask for a donation. For now, it will be open on weekends and only by appointment during the week. Lind, who is a veteran of the US Marine Corps says it took a national effort to win World War II, and all who were involved deserve to be honored.
“For me, it’s a way to honor everyone that gave their all for the country. They didn’t necessarily have to serve. But, at least they did their part when we went to war.”
