U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Information

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) is the premier facility for historical research on U.S. Army history and is dedicated to Telling the Army story...one Soldier at a time. The expansive campus includes the Visitor and Education Center (VEC), the U.S. Army War College Library, the U.S. Army Military History Institute (MHI), and the Army Heritage Trail (AHT). Open to the public, key features of the USAHEC include interpretive and interactive exhibits, the research library and archive, and rentable multifunction facilities. The VEC is dedicated to educating visitors about the culture and experiences of American soldiers with special exhibits, an interpretive gallery, museum store, cafe, and multipurpose rooms for events, lectures, and workshops. The mile-long outdoor AHT allows visitors to experience history in a new way, through interactive and full-scale military exhibits highlighting the different eras of American military. The U.S. Army War College Library, is a component of the USAHEC, and features one library system in two locations. Located on the USAHEC campus in Ridgway Hall, MHI library and archives is the Army’s preeminent research facility. The collection located in the Ridgway Hall research facility encompasses over 14 million items, including the largest collection of Civil War photos in the world. Ridgway Hall also feature the Omar N. Bradley Memorial Art Gallery which rotates exhibitions on a yearly basis as well as two other exhibit areas. Located on the Carlisle Barracks Campus, the Root Hall Library is the primary research and information source for the U.S. Army's senior educational institution, and plays a key role in the development of military, civilian, and international strategic leaders. The Root Hall collection covers subjects such as military strategy and operations, leadership and management, regional and area studies, international relations, foreign policy, strategic studies, and economics.