veterans living history museum

In a very small space, one man displays his unbelievable collection of military memorabilia from the civil war to Afghanistan. He also has an impressive display of women's uniforms and other items related to their important contribution to our country. If you are lucky, you'll get in on conversations with military veterans who stop in to share their stories.

Honestly, I'm not that into military history but I found this little place to be incredible. What makes it great is the curator (and his dog) who is a self-described story-teller (the curator not the dog). This is his own personal collection and he not only knows about it (in detail) but has met most of the men from whom he has derived his collection. Plus it's free. There is a little tip jar if you'd like but he certainly doesn't push it, we just saw it. Dale Nitz, the curator and a veteran himself, tells you stories, if you'd like, about the collection, how he got the pieces, the folks he's met along the way, etc. "We found that in ladies basement," he tells us of a spent fuel tank, "and they were going to throw it away. She was using it for heating oil." Take your time because Dales in no hurry. If you're ever in Port Orchard, Washington, stop in and let Dale take you on a trip through history. It will be well worth your time.