Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) sent a letter to Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll opposing the planned closure of the Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
“Your decision will harm the community’s ability to connect with and find inspiration in the proud history of the Army in the Pacific Northwest, and servicemembers and families stationed in the area will lose an important asset,” wrote Strickland.
The Lewis Army Museum is the only certified U.S. Army Museum on the West Coast. It preserves, interprets, and displays artifacts from Camp Lewis, Fort Lewis, and JBLM, while also educating the public about the Army’s broader role in the region. Its dedicated staff offer training classes for soldiers and host school groups, Scout troops, veterans, and local residents.
Strickland criticized the Army’s decision to spend $45 million on a single parade and festival in Washington, D.C., while closing dozens of local museums nationwide.
“I agree that America deserves to see and hear the Army’s lineage, and doing so fosters deep patriotism and motivation to serve,” Strickland continued. “I also believe that my constituents deserve the opportunity to experience the Army’s history year-round – not merely during milestone birthday parades 3,000 miles away in our nation’s capital.”
The letter also highlighted the negative impacts on historical preservation, education, and recruitment if the museum is closed.
“Shuttering local museums and consolidating CMH facilities from 41 to 12 contradicts your previous statements about ‘empowering an entire new generation of America’s youth to catch the spirit to serve our nation,’” Strickland concluded. “At a time when the United States needs a new generation of leadership to confront rising threats to our country and challenges worldwide, we should be expanding opportunities to pay tribute to the Army’s legacy.”
Read the full letter here or below:
The Honorable Daniel Driscoll
Secretary of the Army
1600 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-1600
June 30, 2025
Dear Secretary Driscoll,
I am writing to express my opposition to the planned closure of the Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. Your decision will harm the community’s ability to connect with and find inspiration in the proud history of the Army in the Pacific Northwest, and servicemembers and families stationed in the area will lose an important asset.
You have previously said that sharing the Army’s story through a $45 million historical festival and parade for its birthday was a generational opportunity that would lead to recruiting centers “busting at the seams.” I agree that America deserves to see and hear the Army’s lineage, and doing so fosters deep patriotism and motivation to serve. I also believe that my constituents deserve the opportunity to experience the Army’s history year-round – not merely during milestone birthday parades 3,000 miles away in our nation’s capital.
The Lewis Army Museum is the only certified U.S. Army Museum on the West Coast. In addition to preserving, interpreting, and displaying artifacts relevant to the many Army units that have called Camp Lewis, Fort Lewis, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord home, the museum includes exhibits and information about the Army’s broader role in the Pacific Northwest. The dedicated staff and volunteers at the Lewis Army Museum offer training classes for soldiers and hosts school groups, Scout troops, visitors from local retirement homes, and the general public.
The total operating budget for all 41 U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) museum facilities is $35 million – less than the cost of the single Army birthday parade. Closing these museums will diminish the Army’s ability to proudly preserve our nation’s history, retain the legacy of our servicemembers, and connect with the American people.
I request answers to the following questions by August 1, 2025:
- What is the timeline for closing the Lewis Army Museum?
- Has CMH explored public-private partnerships to maintain operations at the Lewis Army Museum?
- If closed, where will the historic collection of artifacts at the Lewis Army Museum go and how will they be preserved and displayed?
- How much will it cost to transport, consolidate, and preserve the historical contents of Lewis Army Museum and other museums subject to closure?
- The museum employs three staff members – what is your plan for their positions and employment?
- Given your stated interest in increasing recruitment through history, what is the projected impact on recruiting by closing so many museums?
- How much money does the Department of the Army expect to save by closing the Lewis Army Museum? How much money will closing the full list of 29 facilities save? Please provide a full financial assessment.
Shuttering local museums and consolidating CMH facilities from 41 to 12 contradicts your previous statements about “empowering an entire new generation of America’s youth to catch the spirit to serve our nation.” At a time when the United States needs a new generation of leadership to confront rising threats to our country and challenges worldwide, we should be expanding opportunities to pay tribute to the Army’s legacy. I urge you to honor the proud heritage of the Army and reconsider closing dozens of museums including the Lewis Army Museum.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Strickland
Member of Congress