Hawthorne Ordnance Museum

The Hawthorne museum is the most thorough ordnance museum we've ever been to! It's literally packed full of every single type of ordnance you can imagine. Both my husband and I are Navy Veterans that worked in the ordnance field so seeing it all in one place was definitely right up our alley! The staff was very friendly and welcoming and the displays are well thought out and easy to follow. The local history displayed was perhaps the greatest history lesson of all! We never knew Hawthorne held the secrets it holds!

Meant to go in for 10 minutes to buy a magnet - I was running late and they were closing soon.

40 minutes later I was engrossed in a conversation with a trio of delightful gentlemen who were thrilled to walk around the museum with me (come to think of it, they didn't even ask my permission) and tell me about every exhibit. Worth every minute of it and I am so glad I stayed. This place isn't even an "if you're in Hawthorne" - it's a "make the detour and visit" kind of gem. Free, too! Also of note, excellent prices on ammo cans. I could have blown all of my discretionary funds just on those if I didn't have ironclad self control.

Free and donations ran. Staffed by senior veterans with lifetimes worth of stories and experience. They have ordnance that is rare to see anywhere else. Including nuclear missiles.

A fantastic museum filled with ordinance and military history. It is a seriously impressive collection. Unlike most museums, this place is hands on, you can touch almost everything. The best part are the veterans that are volunteer guides. They are super friendly and have fantastic stories to share. We discovered the museum by accident but it has been a trip highlight. Summer hours are until 4 pm weekdays, not 2 pm indicated by Google.

An amazing museum with tons of history! Great docents that are prior military and super fun to talk to!

A most incredible array of different era personal effects, individual equipment, and hands-on "stuff". If available, DO engage with the elder staff and their personal stories. Wonderful folk. The munitions display was unlike any I've ever seen including my time in the military. Interting and fascinating for non military as well.

This museum is amazing! The curator Peter is so friendly and knowledgeable.
The amount of historic items, weapons and ammunition is incredible. All well categorized and explained! A must see in Hawthrone!

Great collection of military history. Staff is friend informative.

Really cool place even got to donate an old hair perming machine I would of never known what to do with.

So much fun. A ton of artillery to look at as well as a bunch of different guns on display for you to handle. The kids really enjoyed it and it's cool the different uniforms they have

5 stars and then some! My family of seven loved this place. Everything in there is informative, well laid out, and very interactive. Gift shop is great bring cash though they do it old school. The old jeep, tanks, guns, and trucks all still run! People are super nice and easy to talk to as well.

A must see experience, you are doing a disservice to yourself if you skip it. The volunteer staff is passionate and knowledgeable. This place had taken to the time to set up rooms to mimic a barrack and press print room. Did I mention they have a tank inside that you can look into. I could have spent another hour or 2 looking at all the details of things are just when you think you have seen it all up look up to see more. This place is free and runs on donations.

Wonderful museum showcasing ordnance through history, and associated memorabilia. The gift shop has decompressioned shells for sale, in case you want to make a lamp, or a spaceship for gnomes

You won't believe how much Ordnance history is jam-packed on this property. And it's less than 2.5 hours from Reno, near picturesque Walker Lake.
We had to rush our visit, so we weren't able to spend the kind of time a museum such as this deserves. However I will return to see this place any time I can.
Anyone with an interest in U.S. Ordnance, like rockets, missiles, mines, and artillery shells will enjoy this museum.
There are items and articles from the local military base and Ordnance manufacturing plant.
For a free museum, you will get a great educational experience any collector or historian would shell out good money to visit.
Check the gift shop for inert ordnance, ammo cans, and things like tshirts and decals.
Your purchases help support this fine museum! BRING CASH IF YOU WANT TO BUY ANYTHING FROM THE GIFT SHOP. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT CARDS.

The Hawthorne Ordnance Museum is an awesome museum. If you were or are into military ordnance you will not want to miss this museum. I am a retired US Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician and there are so many items I recognize or have worked on. You can't beat the admission price, free. There is a great gift shop and a map with pins that show the visitors home town. You could spend hours looking at all the displays. The curators are very friendly and. The museum is just off of the main route through town.

We stopped by here to stretch our legs on a long trip. Never heard of it and the museum wasn’t on our radar. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of our trip. The history and the equipment are well displayed. The docents were my favorite part though. Hanging out with the vets that staff this place was by far the best part. My only disappointment was that we couldn’t stay longer.

This place is awesome and the sile reason I visit Hawthorne. Other than the great ride to and from. Do not leave town until you have been here. Best museum,...and it's free!!!! Just leave a donation.

Such history. Amazing Docents

Love this place! Must stop in if passing through or visiting. So many interesting things to admire from war times.

Most awesome Military Museum I've ever been to. They have a tank you can climb into that have guns you can handle it's Hands-On it's awesome. And they sell ammo cans to raise funds for the museum.