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Supporting our museum in uncertain times with a new location

  • Dave Hinds
  • 22 hours ago
  • 2 min read

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The Veterans History Museum, a non-profit organization, relies 100 percent on volunteers and donations. We appreciate your dedicated support to honor our military veterans, especially in these dynamic, uncertain times.


In 2011, the Naples Airport Authority offered a group of veterans’ mobile military artifacts displays to a space inside the airport building as a museum. It is a fitting location because the airport was built originally for training pilots during WWII. The museum began to attract interest. Since then, more than 12,000 historical artifacts from the Revolutionary War to The War on Terror, such as weapons, uniforms, medals, ribbons, and printed materials (letters, books, drawings, and posters), have been generously donated by veterans and their families from all over the world. Unfortunately at the end of 2020, 6000+ artifacts had to be put into storage due to the airport remodeling and the museum lost 70 percent of the space. As the airport remodels, we have moved October 1,  2025, to the Government Center near the courthouse located at 3331 Tamiami Trail E.


The commitment to expand our vision is reflected in our new name: Veterans History Museum.


New mailing address: 15205 Collier Blvd, Ste 106, Box 245 | Naples, FL 34119.



Executive Leadership

  • Dave Hinds – Museum President - US Marine Corps combat veteran, Vietnam 1966/67, recipient of three Purple Hearts, inducted to Veterans Hall of Fame. Retired firefighter/arson investigator, deputy sheriff, 11 years.

  • Sal Marranca – museum docent and speaker, US Army 1969/70, senior bank examiner, 12 years.

  • Joe McVay – museum docent, retired engineer, general contractor, Vice President, Crain Engineering, 35 yrs.

  • Charles Berry – museum spokesperson, Army Intelligence - owner of Berry Computer & Agent for John R. Wood Real Estate.

  • Melanie Dellas – Curator & Preservations MA & MS San Diego writer - podcast social media  grant writer.

  • Tim Guerrette – Air Force veteran, Chief of Operations of Collier County Sheriff's office. FBI Academy graduate, podcaster, retired.


As we continue to navigate opportunities for the expansion of the museum with county officials, your support will allow us to innovate and implement our core needs and objectives of preserving our great military history, extending community and academic outreach, and enhancing community understanding of the sacrifices of our veterans and our community heroes.

Come see us Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Government Center at 3331 Tamiami Trail E or visit our website at veteranshistorymuseumnaples.com.

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