By Dominic Konareski
Voice Writer
Since 2010, the West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center has called West Haven home. As the museum celebrates its sweet 16 in the heart of the city, museum staff stay busy adding new improvements.
Hidden away inside a camouflaged building next to the West Haven train station on 30 Hood Terrace, the museum showcases the 102nd Infantry Regiment along with paying homage to history and veterans of all eras.
Museum President Bill Benson, who is a Vietnam Veteran himself stated in a previous interview with the Voice that the museum wants to “honor all our military.” The museum has all displays by eras starting from the Revolutionary War to the modern-day Iraqi and Afghan War. Every several weeks the museum switches up massive displays to showcase new militaria, which the museum gained through donations.
January 31st marked a new beginning for the museum: Audio guided tours.
For the past several years, the museum has had the idea of making an audio guided tour for visitors. Now, the idea has now become a reality.
If a visitor would like to have an audio guided tour, they will get a headset that clips into a hand-held radio. The light radio is attached to a lanyard that the visitor has the option of wearing around their neck. There are 25-numbered markers throughout the museum path that correspond to the 25-numbered button options on the handheld. When pressing the number, the visitor will hear a deep dive surround sound like audio description about the particular section they’re in, making it easy to use for all ages. After use, a member of the museum thoroughly cleans both the radio and headset after each use to prevent any type of bacterial transmission.
The audio guided tour is optional, as a visitor can choose to either have a member-guided tour or simply stroll around themselves on a regular self-guided tour. Entering the museum is completely free, but donations are accepted along with a gift shop with buying options ranging from WHVM apparel to mugs, books and even its famed Stubby movie.
As the museum continues to grow, it is in need of volunteers. The museum is currently an all-volunteer organization, marking it dependent on passionate individuals to help keep its doors open. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, veteran, high school student, retiree or a community member, the museum has numerous opportunities for you to contribute to something meaningful.
The common volunteer areas include being a tour guide, helping work on displays and militaria care / organization, along with helping plan or staff events that the museum holds.
Training and orientation are typically provided for all new volunteers, and there being no-set volunteer time commitment allows even an hour or two a week spent there to make a great impact.
The West Haven Veterans Museum is open Thursday-to-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.