Learn to drive a 1944 M24 Chaffee light tank with one-on-one instruction
60 mins
Instructor, helmet, coveralls
Climb into the driver’s hatch of a 1944 M24 Chaffee and learn the basics with a dedicated instructor. After a hands-on introduction, take the controls on a tank course with time for photos afterward.
Drivers must be 16+ and at least 5'2"; turret riders must be at least 5' tall. You must be able to get in and out without assistance, and durable closed-toe shoes with tread are required. Tank driving operations are weather permitting.
Full refund with 72 hours notice of cancellation. Full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No-shows will be charged the full price.
Wear durable closed-toe shoes with tread (required). Wear flexible, non-restrictive clothes you don’t mind getting dirty; you’ll put provided coveralls over your clothes. You can take photos and video, and you may bring a GoPro to mount before the drive (you handle the mounting and operation before you start).
Drivers must be 16 or older and at least 5'2" tall, with good physical strength to drive. Turret riders must be at least 5' tall. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult in the turret if they meet the height requirement.
The driver compartment is very small, and boarding requires strength and flexibility. You must be able to get in and out of the tank without assistance. Because of size limitations, participation may be limited by height, weight, and mobility.
568 Main Street Hudson, MA 01749
This museum is a genuine standout for military history enthusiasts, drawing visitors from as far as Germany and earning near-universal praise across the board. The collection is world-class, featuring tanks (most kept in running condition), armored vehicles, aircraft, and rare artifacts like a P-40 fighter from Pearl Harbor and a Higgins landing craft from D-Day. Immersive exhibits on the Holocaust and the Hanoi Hilton add powerful historical depth beyond the hardware. The volunteers are clearly the heartbeat of the place, described repeatedly as knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to share stories. Plan for a full day because most visitors find two or three hours simply isn't enough. One thing worth knowing: the volunteers can be quite proactive in engaging guests, which most people love, but if you prefer a more self-guided, leisurely pace, it's worth keeping in mind. That said, it reads more as enthusiasm than a consistent problem, and the overall experience speaks for itself.
It was a really wonderful museum. Very immersive and I loved all the planes, tanks and military vehicles. It’s amazing being so close to something so large and intense. Really unbelievable. I just want to say though…some of the volunteers were a little too intense for us. Just a heads up. I’m not sure if it was an isolated thing or if that’s the norm. I went with my mother and 2 kids(14yrs old and 11yrs old). The moment we walked down the stairs to check out the museum after the shows were done there was an older gentleman who talked to us for about 20min. He went straight to us right when we stepped into the museum. We were ok with that at first, but then he followed us and wanted to chat some more. I had to say “ok, well we are going to explore some more” and pull ourselves away from him. I understand the volunteers are super passionate about history but it really bothered us. We kind of just wanted to walk around on our own and read the signs infront of the stuff, like a normal museum. But it felt like we were constantly interrupted. I don’t mind hearing about some facts and stuff, but it got to be a little much with the stories. After we watched a video of the holocaust another man asked if we wanted to do the VR experience. I said no thank you because I get nauseous with VR stuff and he kept insisting. I had to say no thank you several times, so didn’t my mother. We ended up leaving after that because we honestly felt like we were being followed around. I gave 5 stars because its a really lovely museum, with amazing things to look at, but just like any museum I would like to walk around leisurely and read what’s on the plaques infront of the item. It wasn’t just myself who felt this way, my kids and mother felt overwhelmed by it also. We will probably be back, but my husband will come with us next time.
Danielle Mackie
May 20, 2026
It was a really wonderful museum. Very immersive and I loved all the planes, tanks and military vehicles. It’s amazing being so close to something so large and intense. Really unbelievable. I just want to say though…some of the volunteers were a little too intense for us. Just a heads up. I’m not sure if it was an isolated thing or if that’s the norm. I went with my mother and 2 kids(14yrs old and 11yrs old). The moment we walked down the stairs to check out the museum after the shows were done there was an older gentleman who talked to us for about 20min. He went straight to us right when we stepped into the museum. We were ok with that at first, but then he followed us and wanted to chat some more. I had to say “ok, well we are going to explore some more” and pull ourselves away from him. I understand the volunteers are super passionate about history but it really bothered us. We kind of just wanted to walk around on our own and read the signs infront of the stuff, like a normal museum. But it felt like we were constantly interrupted. I don’t mind hearing about some facts and stuff, but it got to be a little much with the stories. After we watched a video of the holocaust another man asked if we wanted to do the VR experience. I said no thank you because I get nauseous with VR stuff and he kept insisting. I had to say no thank you several times, so didn’t my mother. We ended up leaving after that because we honestly felt like we were being followed around. I gave 5 stars because its a really lovely museum, with amazing things to look at, but just like any museum I would like to walk around leisurely and read what’s on the plaques infront of the item. It wasn’t just myself who felt this way, my kids and mother felt overwhelmed by it also. We will probably be back, but my husband will come with us next time.
Danielle Mackie
May 20, 2026