September/October 2019 GASPARILLA ISLAND 47
A flight simulator allows patrons to see what it
was like looking out from the cockpit of a
fighter plane.
displays from the “Age of Liberty” to the
Spanish-American War. The 20th century gallery
includes exhibits from conflicts in The Philippines
and Central America to World Wars I and II,
Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. The 21st
century war room is hugely popular, as it includes
hands-on, immersive experiences. Miniature war
gaming, narrated with light and sound, is something
that everyone of all ages can enjoy and learn
from, and is featured in the war room.
The first floor also includes a new 247-seat.
theater, a state-of-the-art facility where movies are
shown on some days, and special performances
and exhibit features are shown as well.
Visiting the second floor you will find yourself
drawn to the interactive virtual reality displays,
where you can fire weapons from different wars,
drive a tank, jump out of a plane or fly one
yourself. A bunker, complete with the lights and
sounds of war, is being worked on at this time.
Prisoner of war cage replicas from Vietnam can be
viewed, and the Academy Library can be found on
the second floor as well.
More than 30,000 artifacts in all can be browsed
at the Museum, as well as one of the largest
collections of military photographs and paintings
in the country.
More than 22,000 military veterans live in
Charlotte County, including some who are the
oldest in the country. The annual Veteran’s Day
celebration plans are in the making,
go to freedomisntfree.org for more
information.
With more than
17,000 square feet, the new
facility includes three galleries with
many new interactive exhibits, a theater
and the Future Force Academy activity areas
featuring air, land and sea simulators, along
with virtual and augmented reality experiences.
The new museum is located on 900 West Marion
Ave., Punta Gorda, just a few steps away from
their former location in Fishermen’s Village.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, go to the
museum’s upcoming events at
freedomisntfree.org/upcoming
events/.
Original news clippings, a Congressional Medal of
Honor and World War I Prussian helmets are a few of
the interesting items you will find at the museum.
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/freedomisntfree.org
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