The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Education Center and Vietnam Era Museum is closed for renovation. Please revisit this website for updates on our reopening date. Our outdoor Memorial and monuments will remain open seven days a week

Museum Overview

Visit the Vietnam Era Museum!

The Vietnam Era Museum is the first Vietnam war museum of its kind in the United States. Dedicated in September 1998, the Museum provides political, cultural and historical context for the Memorial. It helps visitors gain an understanding of the conflict in Southeast Asia and the surrounding political strife in America and its lasting impact on American culture, with an emphasis on experiences in New Jersey.
The Vietnam Era Museum enables all visitors to learn about the myriad of forces that produced the conflict abroad and the dissension at home. It provides an atmosphere where appropriate materials and exhibits help visitors understand the significance of the Memorial, the reality of the conflict, and the social, political and cultural complexities of the Vietnam Era.
The Foundation hosts many educational and public programs within the Museum and has experience working with all types of classes and groups. Please visit our Group and Class Trip pages for more information.
The 10,000 square foot facility includes a number of key components.

Temporary exhibits are featured in the theater area and lobby of the Museum. These change three to four times each year and focus on a variety of topics related to the Vietnam Era including Veteran-created art, photography, popular culture, and military history

Covering the walls of the Museum is a chronology of the Era that presents a historical recollection of the events , shown in two concurrent timelines — one reflecting the activity in Vietnam and the other reflecting political, cultural and historical events in the United States. This allows visitors to gain a full perspective of the political, military, social, and cultural elements in play during this time. Interspersed along this timeline are touch screen computers that provide visitors with an interactive glance at historical events, as well as personal photographs submitted by Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Complementing the historic timeline is the Circle of Letters, a chronological display of items collected from those who served and their supporters back home. These personal accounts help make the connection between the facts of War and the lasting effects it has on peoples’ lives.

By sharing the oral histories of New Jerseyans who lived through this Era, the experiences of the Vietnam War and the 1960’s, the human side of this tumultuous time engage visitors. This vast array of memories bring personal voices to the many faces and experiences of the War. From a mother who lost a son, to a war protester, to a three-tour Veteran, these individuals represent the millions of people whose lives were forever changed by the Vietnam War and bring the hard, cold facts into the proper perspective.

Below are clips from our Testimony Theater housed within Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center.

Our one hour presentation is broken down by topic into several shorter segments on each of the following topics. These are just a few of the clips from the video. The full video is on view at the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center.

 

  1. Take Route 287 or Route 78 to the Garden State Parkway South.
  2. Take the Garden State Parkway South approximately 15 miles to Exit 116 (PNC Bank Arts Center).
  3. As you enter the Arts Center grounds, stay to the right and follow the brown directional signs to the Educational Center.
  4. Make a right turn onto Memorial Lane and make 2nd left into the Ed Center Parking Lot.

Visit the Vietnam Era Museum!

The Vietnam Era Museum is the first Vietnam war museum of its kind in the United States. Dedicated in September 1998, the Museum provides political, cultural and historical context for the Memorial. It helps visitors gain an understanding of the conflict in Southeast Asia and the surrounding political strife in America and its lasting impact on American culture, with an emphasis on experiences in New Jersey.
The Vietnam Era Museum enables all visitors to learn about the myriad of forces that produced the conflict abroad and the dissension at home. It provides an atmosphere where appropriate materials and exhibits help visitors understand the significance of the Memorial, the reality of the conflict, and the social, political and cultural complexities of the Vietnam Era.
The Foundation hosts many educational and public programs within the Museum and has experience working with all types of classes and groups. Please visit our Group and Class Trip pages for more information.
The 10,000 square foot facility includes a number of key components.

Temporary Exhibits

Temporary exhibits are featured in the theater area and lobby of the Museum. These change three to four times each year and focus on a variety of topics related to the Vietnam Era including Veteran-created art, photography, popular culture, and military history.

Historic Timeline

Covering the walls of the Museum is a chronology of the Era that presents a historical recollection of the events , shown in two concurrent timelines — one reflecting the activity in Vietnam and the other reflecting political, cultural and historical events in the United States. This allows visitors to gain a full perspective of the political, military, social, and cultural elements in play during this time. Interspersed along this timeline are touch screen computers that provide visitors with an interactive glance at historical events, as well as personal photographs submitted by Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Circle of Letters

Complementing the historic timeline is the Circle of Letters, a chronological display of items collected from those who served and their supporters back home. These personal accounts help make the connection between the facts of War and the lasting effects it has on peoples’ lives.

The Testimony Theater

By sharing the oral histories of New Jerseyans who lived through this Era, the experiences of the Vietnam War and the 1960’s, the human side of this tumultuous time engage visitors. This vast array of memories bring personal voices to the many faces and experiences of the War. From a mother who lost a son, to a war protester, to a three-tour Veteran, these individuals represent the millions of people whose lives were forever changed by the Vietnam War and bring the hard, cold facts into the proper perspective.
Below are clips from our Testimony Theater housed within Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center.
Our one hour presentation is broken down by topic into several shorter segments on each of the following topics. These are just a few of the clips from the video. The full video is on view at the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center.
Arriving in Vietnam

Multi-Purpose Room

This area of the building seats thirty to forty people. Its flexible design allows for lectures, meetings and teleconferencing. Additionally, docents use this room for educational programs with visiting school groups.
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