Camp Breckinridge

“Camp Breckinridge Museum is the place to visit for the interesting story of our community’s involvement in WWII and the Korean War. Activated on July 1, 1942, Camp Breckinridge served as an infantry training camp and consisted of a total of 1,800 buildings, including a 2,000-bed hospital, barracks, mess halls, warehouses, office buildings, and many more. The current museum building was one of four service clubs at Camp Breckinridge. At its peak, the camp had 55,000 people living on base.

In May 1943, a trainload of well-guarded German prisoners of war arrived at Camp Breckinridge, making it the first Army base in the United States to house POWs. They were treated very well at Camp Breckinridge with housing, food, and medical treatment. In return, they performed many duties on the Army base and nearby farms.

When the work program began, Daniel Mayer, a soldier from Czechoslovakia, was asked to paint on the walls of the Non-Commissioned Officers Club. Mayer and his assistant painted in the club for nearly three years. The largest mural, being a 20 by 30-foot mural of the Castle of Werneck located in Franconia, took 15 months to complete. Mayer completed the mural in the summer of 1945, laying his brushes down for the very last time. He died shortly thereafter in September 1945.

The murals still adorn the walls of Camp Breckinridge Museum and Arts Center and are considered a fascinating addition to the building that houses memorabilia and memories of not only our community but our nation’s history. Whether you are visiting the museum or attending an event, we invite you to take a moment to view the art, artifacts and memorabilia proudly displayed.”