About the Arsenal of Democracy

  • The Arsenal of Democracy is an immersive exhibit hall that tells the story of five different groups that played key roles in America's victory in World War II. Originally named after what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the collective efforts of American industry in supporting the Allies, the Arsenal of Democracy is now a gateway to the stories of heroes. While visiting, you’ll discover the history of the:
  • Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots who fought for freedom abroad and at home. Prominently displayed in the Arsenal of Democracy is a mock-up of the P-51D Mustang fighter plane flown by Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee.
  • The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), female pilots recruited to ferry warplanes from base to base to relieve male pilots needed for combat. Over 1100 women trained and flew with the WASP. The WASPS collectively flew every American warplane in the American aviation inventory.
  • “Rosie the Riveter,” the nickname for American woman who served by the millions in factories and shipyards to support war production, are also portrayed in an exhibit that feature working rivet guns.
  •  The Aztec Eagles, the 201st Squadron of the Mexican Air Force, trained and fought alongside American pilots in the Pacific. They trained in nearby Greenville, Texas during the war.
  • The role of Texas’s contributions in World War II described in photos and biographies of famous Texas warriors including future-president Dwight D. Eisenhower, five-star Admiral Chester Nimitz and African American hero of Pearl Harbor, Doris “Dorie” Miller.

Indulge yourself in a rich, diverse history and get lost in the stories!