Yukon Veterans Museum(51)

Veterans hold a special place in our collective histories. I don't think any of us truly like war, well at least the sane of us, but sometimes war must happen to fight the forces that want to enflict their wills on others. The men and women who take up arms to prevent the spread of oppression should be applauded. Veterans should be honored for thier service, plain and simple. One great place that holds this belief is the Yukon Veterans Museum.

     This museum is located in the American Legion building and it houses quite a collection of military history. From the road it looks a little small and unassuming, but when you get inside, it opens up to a fairly big space filled with memorabilia. The collection is fairly thorough from an American history standpoint. They have artifacts from the Civil War and every conflict after that. They also focus on every branch of the military. For me, it's interesting to see what each branch was doing at a particular time in history and how they collaborated to get the job done. Each part of the collection helps form a story of our past as it pertains to our military. And with as many historical museums as I've been to, it furthers my perception of where we've been and what we've done as a country. It's a little bit humbling.

I had a chance to talk with a veteran named Wally during my visit and he had a wealth of information that I either didn't know or he had a complete story of what I knew a little about. He showed me a few of his favorite things in the museum and then let me roam around to take it all in and get my photos. Any time I had a question, he was ready with an answer or a story. I absolutely loved it. There's nothing more important that learning things from our elders. What does that do? It prevents us from repeating undesirable history. When we learn, we grow. And there is a lot to learn and a lot of interesting things to see at this museum. It's a definite stop if you're a military buff, a history buff, or you're just in Yukon for a little while. Stop in and check it out. It's free to see so you have nothing to lose! And another thing they offer is a mobile museum that goes out to all kinds of gatherings. There's a photo of their trailer below, so if you see it, stop and say hello.

Also, if you're a veteran and you're looking for some assistance in dealing with pretty much anything, they have a guy name Dustin who runs a Veterans Affairs Service here. If you need help, ask for it. Don't be like my ex-Navy dad and say "That's reserved for folks who really need it." when it's really you that needs it. I'll give info on this below.

1010 W. Main, Yukon

405-514-6794

Veterans Service Officer: Dustin Simmons

918-616-2161 or DustinSimmons@odva.ok.gov

Jonathan Elmore ©2025