Military Crossroads - Groveport and Dayton

Family and Travel

Giles Kennedy

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By Giles Kennedy

Family and Travel Columnist

Columbus Wired

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So what does a nationally known military museum in Groveport, a US Air Force Base, a museum in Dayton and a marathon have in common?

A lot.

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Motts Military Museum in Groveport is slowly becoming one of the best gems in Central Ohio. It is the largest private military collection in Central Ohio.

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https://mottsmilitarymuseuminc.com

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Warren Motts, a former professional photographer and longtime military supporter, gathered many items from fellow veterans.

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"Basically, I had a lot of items that needed a good home, " Warren explained on Auto Smarts Radio on 610WTVN Saturday morning.

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Per their website

Motts Military Museum Inc

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Motts Military Museum

Founded in 1987 by Warren E. Motts of Groveport, Ohio who established the museum as a 501 (C) 3 not for profit tax exempt educational organization. The mission of Motts Military Museum is to:

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“To educate the public on the importance of America’s military past through the documentation, collection, interpretation, and preservation of tangible artifacts and personal stories of the men and women who served and are serving in the United States Armed Forces.”

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Originally established in the Motts family’s 1870 residence, the museum moved in 1999 to a more modern 5,100 square foot facility with nearly four acres of land. The new building and grounds were given to the museum through the generosity of Columbus Attorney Robert R. Richards who was a former special agent of the War Department during World War II.

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Over the next several years the museum grew in leaps and bounds. Donations poured in from veterans and their families. The museum secured many vehicles, military aircraft, and a Higgins Boat from World War II. In 2001, the museum broke ground for a new wing and as funds were available the museum’s volunteer crew, many of whom were professional carpenters, electricians and other skilled tradesmen, worked on the 5,200 square feet area. By 2006, the entire structure was completed and paid in full. On May 23, 2015 the new wing was dedicated.

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( The Driving for Daisy Cruise In was a fundraiser for an additional building to house all the artifacts from Warren's 9/11 collection)

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More Information

Motts Military Museum, Inc.

5075 South Hamilton Rd.

Groveport, Ohio 43125-9336

info@mottsmilitarymuseum.org

Phone: (614) 836-1500

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Our Hours

Tuesday – Saturday: 9am to 5pm

Sunday: 1pm to 5pm

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Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Christmas Day: Closed

We close at noon the day before Christmas and the day before Thanksgiving.

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Admission

Adults: $12

Seniors/Veterans with ID: $10

Students: $7

Children 5 and under: FREE

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I was on AutoSmarts Radio Saturday September 16th, with Dan Boots Longenette ( host and legendary classic cars guy) interviewed me for Operation Lifesaver Rail Safety Week. I also mentioned that I was a family and travel columnist for Columbus Wired.

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" Oh, you don't say…" Boots replied, " where are you heading after here?"

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Funny you should ask.

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Our chief editor emeritus and current sports photographer Sam Fahmi ran the John Glenn 5K the day before.

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My darling wife Tanya was running the US Air Force Marathon. 90 plus miles away from Dayton and Columbus…lies the National Museum of the United States Air Force. On the grounds, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the city of Fairborn….the marathon courses through aviation and military history.

#USAFMarathon

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https://www.usafmarathon.com/air-force-marathon/

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The National Museum of the United States Air Force is quite an accomplishment of aviation history.

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https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

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Visiting wasn't there on this trip. My wife and I took my father in law, Keith Welch; Father's Day this past June.

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It is easily a one to two day trip to see the whole collection.

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