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JBLM's Army Museum reopens, host to new training center

The Lewis Army Museum was originally built in 1918

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Myles Grant had reason to be happy.

"Today is the rededication of a historic structure," the director of the Lewis Army Museum said moments before a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on Feb. 21. "I'm very excited about this day and what it means to Joint Base Lewis-McChord."

Wade Perrow Construction of Gig Harbor completed the $9.6 million renovations.

"This is a ‘soft opening;' this is still a work in progress" Col. Thomas Brittain, garrison commander, said during introductory remarks.

That progress covers a significant part of JBLM's history.

The Lewis Army Museum was originally built in 1918 and 1919 by the Salvation Army and named the Red Shield Inn. The Pratt and Watson Construction Company of Spokane built the 150-room inn for $107,000. "It was considered state-of-the-art then," Brittain continued. "It had hot water and telephones."

The structure was then used as a lodge and social center for then-Camp Lewis Soldiers and visitors to the installation. At the end of World War I, the Army purchased the inn from the Salvation Army on a "quit claim" deed for the price of $1.  The Inn was then known as the Camp Lewis Apartments.

"That's a deal I continue to look for," Brittain quipped.

In 1927, the Camp was designated a permanent installation and given the name Fort Lewis.  It was at this time that the Inn's name changed to The Fort Lewis Inn.

In 1973, the structure became the home of the Fort Lewis Military Museum and has become a distinctive landmark at JBLM. So distinctive, in fact, that in 1979 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The renovations to the structure ensure a link from the past to the present and into the future. "This is now an education and training center," Brittain pointed out. "This is good for the public and our Soldiers."

Presently, the public can visit a first floor gallery, the main lobby, the museum's floor and use (by appointment) the research archives.

"There is still work to be done," Grant said.  "But we expect to have other galleries opened by the end of this summer."

In addition to hosting the museum, the building now houses a 15,000 square foot training facility on the third floor to help ease a shortage of classroom space on JBLM.

The museum is open to the public on Thursdays from noon until 4 pm.  For more information, call (253) 967-7207.

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