LAWRENCE — The Museum of 20th Century Warfare and the staff at Fort Harrison State Park will host the Battle of the Bulge Exhibit from Sat., Dec. 14 until Sat., Jan. 25. The Exhibit will feature the week-to-week change during the Battle with artifacts, models, and presentations each Saturday and Sunday through the run of the Exhibit. The Exhibit opens at noon – 4 p.m. in Building 701 across from the Park Office. Battle Lectures will be held at the Park Office from 1-1:45 p.m.
The Battle of the Bulge Lecture series starts Dec. 14 with the program “The 99th Infantry Division.” Each Battle Lecture thereafter highlights the changes in the Battle from both the U.S. and German perspective. Actual Battle of the Bulge veterans will be on hand each Saturday to answer questions about this pivotal event during 1944-1945.
New to the 2013 Exhibit is the Battle of the Bulge Special Displays, scheduled each Sunday through the run of the Exhibit. The first Display, “Rifles of the Bulge” will be held in the Museum of 20th Century Warfare near the Park Office.
The Battle of the Bulge started on Dec. 16, 1944. The German army launched a massive counter-offensive through Belgium at the center of the American lines in mid-winter, catching most of the United States Commanders off-guard and a lot of the U.S. ground troops ill-prepared for winter combat.
There is no cost to attend the program, but the normal $5/in-state or $7/out-of-state vehicle gate fee applies. For more information, please contact the visitor’s center at 317-591-0122. Fort Harrison State Park (stateparks.IN.gov/2982.htm) is at 5753 Glenn Road, Indianapolis, 46216.