While attending Dragonman's 31st Annual Machine Gun Shoot & Industry Range Day, we got a tour of the renowned on-site Military Museum by the Dragonman himself.
Rivaling the size of a Walmart, inside the museum is a private collection of military vehicles, weapons, and memorabilia valued over $10 million. Ranging from the Civil War to Desert Storm, much of the museum is dedicated to all sides of WWII, but there's even a corner dedicated to "Dragonboy" displaying photos of a young Dragonman during his service in Vietnam.
Lined with authentic helmets and uniforms, some with photos of their previous wearers, the tour is a two-hour step back in time. And while there's no handling of items on display, its the closest you'll get to still-functioning military jeeps, half-tracks, tanks, artillery, weapons, and ammunition outside of owning them yourself. There's even rare and one-of-a-kind war items on display, like a German belt buckle pistol, that you'll likely never see anywhere else in the U.S. or world.
And if you're lucky, Dragonman will let you enter his hot rod and Elvis rooms, filled with old school cool and custom cars and 1950s collectibles.
If you live in Colorado or find yourself driving through Colorado Springs, head east of town and stop in at Dragonman's for an unforgettable history lesson. The museum is open April to November with tours given on Wednesday's, Friday's, and Sunday's.