I've got a day to kill in Kansas City on the 26th. Thought about driving out to see the atomic cannon on I-70 and was wondering what static displays and museums there are at Ft. Riley that might have armor. I see there is a cavalry museum there.

This is presuming the base isn't locked down.

Thanks,
Paul

Paul,
24th ID(MECH), 1st ID, and 1st Armored Div is there.

Here is Ft. Riley's home page. Best thing is call the MP station and see if they will let you on.

Ft. Riley

As long as you have a photo ID, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, yushouldn't have a probelm getting in. The will ask your destination and you'll of course tell them the Cavalry Museum. I wouldn't suggest driving around checking out the motor pools or other vehicle holding areas unless you have a local to escort.

The Cav museum is pretty interesting, and if you aren't satisfied there, go about 30 miloes further west on I-70 to Abilene and visit the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum. LOTS of nice WWII stuff in there, especially about D-Day.

If you can't devote a whole day to travelling, why not come up and visit my stomping grounds, Fort Leavenworth? The post is about an hour from the center of KC (and 15 minutes from KCI, if your are staying near there). We don't have as much as Fort Riley (no tanks and no guns less than 100 years old), but it is a rather charming old post o the Missouri River and we have a nice Frontier Army Museum and a self-guided tour that includes the Buffalo Soldier Monument, and the old USDB (the military prison). Give me a call when you're around and if I'm not tied up with stuff, I can give you a real good tour of stuff off the beaten track.

Bob,

Sounds like a plan. I can start the day at KCI, then down to Ft. Riley and finish up in Overland Park.

PM me the phone number.

Thanks,
Paul

Overland Park ??

That is where I am. I found a few vehicles out in Tokepa a couple of weeks ago I am going back there this weekend I hope. From the road I swear one of them was a tan painted M42 Duster...

Junction City (just outside the fort) has the highest per capita population of prostitutes of any city west of the Mississippi River.

As a long-time, but now ex-, Kansan, let me echo recommendations above.

Frontier Museum at Ft Leavenworth is a must-see, IMHO.

Next is the Cavalry Museum at Riley, but that's a long haul ... There is little else on public display at Riley -- an old locomotive, some buffalo, and the Atomic Cannon opposite Marshall Field above I-70 (I was part of the project that put that up there, late-1974).

In-between, in Topeka is an air museum on Forbes Field that also has(had?) some older armor. Not much of either & not in good shape, but I guess I haven't been there in 7-8 years ... The outfit tries hard, but doesn't have the support it needs ....

Pass on the "delights" of Junction City ....

Remember that when Custer left for the Little Big Horn, he said "Don't change anything until I get back..." and thanks to that & Bob Dole, we still have Forts Leavenworth & Riley ....

John

I happen to know where there is an M60A3 (I think its an a3) on display at a KSANG bulding in topeka. It's about 4 miles off I-70 if you want to stop and get a few pics. PM me for the details.

If you drive another hour west, you can visit the Eisenhower Museum and Library..it's well worth the visit.

The Cav Museum is excellent.

Steve

And where are all these Kansans appearing from the woodwork?

Hey does my profile say Kansas? I am from the proper side of Kansas City!

LOL Ah yes...where everything drains!

Just kidding.

There are also quite a few vintage tanks all over the post, up by the main PX there is a T-55 that 1st ID brought home from Desert Storm.

Thanks for all the info. I'll have my digital camera so I'll report back what I find.

Paul

It was a long but good day. Thanks to Bob for showing me around Leavenworth. A lot of neat history there.

Made it to Ft. Riley as well. The museums were closed by then but there were 3 static displays. A M59, Chaffee and a M16. Did spot a Long Tom and some assorted US and Russian equipment in a fenced in yard close by but didn't take any pictures. Also made it up to the Atomic Cannon on the hillside opposite the base.

I've never seen this shield extension on a M16.



37 pictures total


118 pictures total

I'll see if Prime Portal wants the image sets. There's other assorted pictures but only two detail sets.

Paul

Glad you had a good time, Paul. It would have been better if the museum was open on Sunday!

Off the top of my head, the shield extensions on the M16 were called "bat wings" & it is a Korean War thing. I think Hunnicutt's Halftrack book covers 'em pretty well ...

John