Bicentennial Park plans for military museum

STOCKTON, Ala. (WALA) - Bicentennial Park, located just off County Road 225, is dedicated to preserving the country's history.

It’s already the site of an Indian village, a veteran’s memorial and a 19 ^th century country store. Now, the Alabama State Military Museum is being planned at the Bicentennial Park in Stockton.

The new museum will be east of the Veteran's Memorial and connected with the Patriot's Memorial Brick Pathway.

Baldwin county officials said on Monday that they plan to add the 20,000 sq. ft. military museum to the current monuments.

“Alabama is incredibly rich in its military heritage. This area alone gives examples of Alabama’s contribution to the martial effort since the beginning of the United States,” said Baldwin County Archives Director John Jackson.

Jackson said the last battle of the war of 1812 was fought in Baldwin County and this new museum will honor Alabamians who have served in the United States military.  

The museum will honor conflicts ranging from the Revolutionary War time period up to current engagements.

Jackson said the plan is to build the 20,000 square foot museum without using tax dollars.  

“We’re going to embark on a campaign to raise money over the next year and we’ll use the opportunity to go see veterans groups, civic groups and private organization,” Jackson said.

He said the museum will only add to the attractions tourists want to see when they visit the Gulf Coast and that means more tourism dollars.

Right now a 3-D replica of the museum is being built and that will give organizations a better idea of what the museum will look like.