Evansville Wartime Museum

06/17/2026

Did you have a family member who worked in one of Evansville's wartime factories during World War II?

If so, there's a good chance their name may be hiding in the pages of history. 📖

The has digitized many local WWII-era factory newspapers, employee newsletters, photographs, and other historical records, making them searchable online. Whether your family member worked at Republic Aviation, Servel, the Evansville Shipyard, or another wartime industry, you might be surprised what you discover.

Try searching their name here:
https://digital.evpl.org/

You may find a photograph, a workplace announcement, a sports team roster, an award, a promotion, or even a story from their time helping support the war effort.

If you uncover something interesting, share it in the comments! ⬇ We'd love to see the stories and faces behind Evansville's remarkable wartime legacy! 🇺🇸

06/15/2026

✈️ WWII Trivia Time! ✈️

The legendary P-47 Thunderbolt packed a serious punch with eight .50 caliber machine guns and a total of 3,400 rounds of ammunition.

But here's the question:

If a P-47 pilot held down the trigger continuously, how long would it take to fire every single round on board? 💥

A) under 10 seconds
B) ~ 30 seconds
C) ~ 60 seconds
D) over 60 seconds

Drop your guess in the comments before scrolling down!

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The answer is about 30–34 seconds!

With all eight machine guns firing at once, a P-47 could unleash more than 100 rounds every second. In reality, pilots rarely held the trigger down for that long. Instead, they fired in short bursts of just a few seconds to conserve ammunition, improve accuracy, and avoid overheating the guns.

Want to learn more about the aircraft that helped win the war? Visit the Evansville Wartime Museum and discover the story of the P-47 Thunderbolt and the men and women who built them right here in Evansville. 💪💙

06/13/2026

Last week, World War II veteran and P-47 Thunderbolt pilot Robert Huddleston celebrated an incredible milestone, his 102nd birthday! 🥳

To help mark the occasion, two Evansville Wartime Museum volunteers traveled to North Carolina to celebrate with Mr. Huddleston and thank him for his friendship and support. Since connecting with the museum, he has become a generous supporter of our mission to preserve and share the stories of the Greatest Generation.

As a P-47 pilot during World War II, Mr. Huddleston was part of a generation whose courage and sacrifice helped shape the world we live in today. We are honored to help preserve his story and share it with our visitors.

You can see Mr. Huddleston's beautifully hand-painted flight jacket on display at the Evansville Wartime Museum, where it continues to inspire visitors and serve as a reminder of the men and women who served during the war. 🇺🇸

Please join us in wishing Mr. Huddleston a very happy 102nd birthday! 🎉🎂

06/12/2026

This Republic Aviation Indiana Division paystub is dated May 12, 1945, just days after Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. It shows an Evansville worker earning $59.38 for 45 hours of work helping build aircraft for the war effort. Like many Americans during World War II, a portion of their paycheck went toward purchasing War Bonds, helping support the nation during wartime.

Documents like this remind us that victory wasn't won only on the battlefield. It was also earned in factories, shipyards, and workplaces across the country by ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.

And a little trivia for you, do you know what the deduction labeled "F.O.A.B." stands for?

We know the answer, but you'll have to come visit the Evansville Wartime Museum to find out!

06/11/2026

Summer is the perfect time to explore the Evansville Wartime Museum. Whether you're looking for something meaningful to do with the family, a way to honor the veterans in your life, or just a chance to get up close with some incredible aircraft, we have something for you this season.

This year we have 3 incredible Warbird events bringing in 4 iconic aircraft, all available for ground tours and rides.

C-47 "Hairless Joe", July 10th-12th
B-29 "DOC" & P-51 "Gunfighter", July 31-Aug 2nd
Columbus Indiana Huey, Aug 8th-9th

Check our events calendar and plan your visit today!
https://www.evansvillewartimemuseum.org/events/calendar

06/10/2026

During World War II, Evansville answered the call like few other communities in America. From building P-47 Thunderbolts and LSTs to producing millions of rounds of ammunition, our city became a vital part of the Allied war effort. The manufacturing achievements of Evansville helped support victory overseas and forever shaped our community's history.

This excellent story from 14 News highlights the incredible men and women who went to work during the war and the lasting impact their efforts had on our city. We encourage everyone to watch and learn more about Evansville's remarkable wartime legacy.

After watching, stop by the Evansville Wartime Museum to explore the stories, artifacts, and aircraft that help preserve this important chapter of our history.

Many believe the manufacturing effort in Evansville during World War II helped win the war.

06/02/2026

Please note that we will be closed this Sunday, June 7th for our Volunteer Appreciation Picnic! We are closed to the public to give us time to celebrate the amazing people who keep our museum running!

Thank you for understanding!

05/25/2026

Today, on Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women from our community and across the nation who gave their lives in service to the United States.

At the Evansville Wartime Museum, the stories of local veterans are at the heart of what we preserve and share. Behind every uniform, photograph, and artifact is a person who answered the call to serve, and for some, made the ultimate sacrifice.

Their courage and dedication will never be forgotten. As we reflect on their service today, we invite our community to join us in honoring their memory and ensuring their stories continue to be told for generations to come.

We remember. We honor. We thank them. 🇺🇸