The museum had photographs of only seven batteries, so the veteran said he would give what he had to the museum. The Bataan Museum was founded in 1947 by members of the New Mexico National Guard and interested citizens. It has always been located in Santa Fe, but its present location is very special. The museum and library moved recently into the original Armory from which the entire 200th Coast Artillery Regiment was processed for entry into active service in 1941. The museum and library operate under the auspices of a small non-profit foundation with some support from the New Mexico National Guard.
Admission is free.
The central focus of the museum is the men of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment sent to the Philippines early in World War II to furnish anti-aircraft support for Clark Field and Fort Stotsenberg. Young people are especially welcome and school groups often visit. One of the special aspects of the library's collection is that it contains one of the largest assemblages of books on the subject of the experiences of prisoners of war. The museum has a considerable number of artifacts from World War II and World War I, but its collection covers four centuries of history in America. The United States and its allies came back to win the war, but victory came in large measure from the courage of people like the men and women remembered in this corner of Santa Fe, New Mexico.