The Museum of the American G.I. is building a new facility

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The Museum of the American G.I. is building a new facility on its property.

Driving might have noticed a new building on the Museum of the American G.I. campus while traveling on Highway 6. The Museum of the American G.I. is building its own replica 1940s motor pool facility. A motor pool is a facility that houses a fleet of vehicles available for temporary use, usually at military or governmental installations.

The new W.H. Bauer Magi Motor Pool Annex facility will house World War II and other military vehicles for visitors to see. The building will be a light yellow color, which was the color of military buildings in the 1940s.

Before the work on the building, the site was originally an oil well. Work on the building started in August 2023.

The president of the Museum of the American G.I., Brent Mullins, said the new facility will free up space in the original museum, allowing more opportunities to host events on their property.

“The building is a replica of a 1940s army motor pool, so we are building the building as true to 1940s standards as we can,” said Mullins.

As of June 2024, the exterior siding as well as the interior framing of the building is complete.

This new motor pool will have a main hall that is 60 feet by 100 feet, housing WW2 military tanks and other vehicles.

In addition to the main hall, the motor pool will have a workshop where there will be vintage tools and 1940s supplies, office spaces, a day room and a storage room.

Mark Hawthorn, a museum volunteer of 12 years, has seen many phases the museum has gone through and is excited for the next one.

“I was volunteering when the current, the old building just had a slab, and seeing that progress and this one just has blossomed real quick, it’s been cool to watch,” said Hawthorn.

Mullins says they’re hoping the facility will be completed by summer 2025, but they are waiting on donations to complete the project.

The museum is looking for donations from the public. Donations can be given in-person at the museum or on their website here.

“We need donations, we don’t take out bank loans or anything like that. Everything that we do, we have to wait for money in order to be able to do that,” said Hawthorn.

Building the W.H. Bauer Magi Motor Pool Annex facility is just the beginning of renovations and expansions at the Museum of the American G.I.’s property.

The museum has a master plan that showcases the museum’s short-term and long-range plans to provide visitors with additional indoor and outdoor opportunities to interact with historical military equipment as we honor our Nation’s veterans. The master plan includes the completion of the motor pool building and the installation of a C-47 aircraft in the front of the museum.

Full tour of the museum: