On Saturday, June 10th, members of the Military Transport Association of North Jersey set out for a special guided tour of the Military Technology Museum of New Jersey, housed within the InfoAge Science History Learning Center, 2201 Marconi Road, Camp Evans (formerly Fort Monmouth’s Top Secret radio testing facility), Wall, NJ. Gary Shultz was the driver of the comfortable Ford Transit 350 12-passenger van that the group rented.
This museum has amassed one of the largest and rarest collections of both static and operating military vehicles and equipment in the world. Their extensive collections include some of the rarest military and non-military vehicles such as prototypes and concept vehicles, including the war-born Jeep’s history from start to finish. Many of their some 80 vehicles are in their original condition, and others have undergone various stages of restoration. There are not only Jeeps, but Seaps, a DUKW, Weasels, tanks, a 1940 VC Carryall, an Aqua Cheetah prototype (one of the world’s first amphibious vehicles), a Clark military bulldozer, and a WWII German military vehicle collection, including a motorcycle-like half-track. Bolstering the outstanding exhibits are hundreds of vintage military artifacts, equipment, models, uniforms, illustrations, etc.
At the rear of their museum facility, the Military Technology Museum has a restoration shop area and thousands of spare parts. They plan to upgrade and add additional exhibits and displays in the future, including more of their popular, interactive, video programs. This reporter (Capt. Bill McKelvey, Chairman, Liberty Historic Railway) was especially intrigued by the MTM’s plan to install a panel of railroad track for display of a Jeep equipped with railroad wheels. Now, that’s a project LHRy could be interested in funding! In fact, we can source the 36 feet of light-weight rail which would be appropriate for their exhibit.
The MTM Mission Statement: Educate school children and the general public through both static and interactive displays depicting past military technological changes and inventions that affect our daily lives today. Open Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 1pm - 5pm. www.militartytechnj.wix.com