National Medal of Honor Museum among nominees for USA Today's Best New Museum

Voting is open until December 22nd to cast ballots for the National Medal of Honor Museum.

The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington opened its doors in March of this year, now it's among 15 museums across the country nominated for USA Today's "Best New Museum of 2026."

"It would be thrilling just to be recognized just for the stories we're telling here," National Medal of Honor Museum Senior Vice President of Museum Engagement Alexandra Rhue said. "Nothing is more important in our work here at this museum than sharing the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients."

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration given for valor. The museum tells the stories of recipients, from the first ones during the Civil War to modern times.

"This Huey helicopter is called the 'Nancy Lee," Rhue said, standing next to the helicopter on exhibit. "That is the name of the wife of the man who flew a helicopter just like this, Patrick Brady, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat in the Vietnam War."

It took three decades of planning, building, and curating exhibits.

"It's thousands of hours, hundreds of people, so much work and effort and love and learning that went into creating this museum," Rhue said. "I hope that visitors through the doors of the museum experience a sense of awe, but I also hope they see themselves reflected in the stories here."

You can vote from your computer, once a day until December 22nd, for the National Medal of Honor Museum.