About the Museum of Military History

The genesis for the Museum of Military History began in 1978 when a university museum curator in Lewiston, Idaho, allowed me to check out several military artifacts to use for a history talk at my grade school.  These items included two Civil War muskets, a Union belt and buckle, a Confederate belt and buckle, a WW I German steel helmet, a WW I German spiked helmet, and a WW I German gas mask.  I'm still amazed that the gentleman allowed a young kid to check out these items and take them home!   Holding those relics of history in my hands got me hooked.  It fascinated me to think about who had owned and used them and the events they witnessed.  From that experience, I made the decision then to begin my own military history collection.  Within a few weeks my first collection was in existence on a set of selves in my bedroom.  Included in that meager beginning were some items from my father's Air National Guard service, some reproduction Civil War items, and a couple items from the local Army Navy Store.  The collection rapidly took off from that point and soon occupied an entire room in our house.  It has been growing ever since!

Although many collectors I've met over the years were more concerned about the particular military artifact than the person it belonged to, I was more interested in the person and the history of their service.  After seeing so many groups of historically important military artifacts being broken up by dealers with no regard for the history of the individual behind the item, I decided to put my focus on keeping one person's artifacts and story together.  This is the goal of the Museum of Military History -- to preserve not only artifacts, but the story of the individual behind them.

All ranks from basic recruit to flag officer are represented in the collection, as well as all services and many foreign nations.  My aim is to ensure the artifacts and the stories will remain together for the education of future generations.

I greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide.  If you have any military related items from any time period, ancient to modern, you would consider adding to this collection, please contact me.  Of course donations are greatly appreciated and some of our most significant items have been added to the collection through the generosity of some very kind individuals.  However, we will also negotiate to purchase items for the collection to ensure they will have a good home.  Please keep in mind, we do not buy with profit margin in mind, we buy to permanently add artifacts to our collection to ensure they remain available for the education of future generations.  Thank you very kindly for your interest and assistance!

  -- Steve Schultz