Moffett Museum Brings WWI History to Life with Immersive Trench Exhibit

The museum's new display aims to engage visitors beyond 'sterile displays' by allowing them to step into the past.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:34pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a World War I soldier's helmet repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the museum's innovative approach to historical storytelling.The Moffett Field Museum's immersive WWI trench exhibit brings the realities of trench warfare to life through interactive displays and historical artifacts.Mountain View Today

The Moffett Field Museum in Mountain View, California has created an immersive World War I exhibit, featuring a mock trench that allows visitors to step into the history of the Great War. The exhibit, designed in collaboration with the Eagle Field Foundation, includes real artifacts from the era and aims to educate people on the experiences of American soldiers who fought on the Western Front.

Why it matters

The museum's goal is to move beyond traditional 'behind glass' displays and instead create an engaging, interactive experience that brings history to life. This approach reflects a broader trend in museums towards more immersive, hands-on exhibits that can capture the attention of modern audiences.

The details

The museum's senior docent, Tyler Nelson, led the effort to design and construct the mock trench, using period photos as inspiration. The exhibit features hanging lanterns, the sounds of distant explosions, and a variety of WWI-era artifacts, including helmets, guns, shell casings, and gas masks. A mannequin dressed in a uniform previously worn by a Mountain View soldier, Glenn Wilson, greets visitors at the entrance, and excerpts from Wilson's memoir are displayed alongside.

  • The World War I exhibit is slated to remain on display until early June 2026.
  • The museum's current lease with NASA ends in mid-2027, and management is working on a deal to rent a larger building on Moffett Field.

The players

Moffett Field Museum

A museum located at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California that educates visitors on the history of the airfield, from its time as a naval air station to its current management by NASA.

Tyler Nelson

A senior docent at the Moffett Field Museum who helped design and construct the immersive World War I trench exhibit.

Jeff Wasel

The executive director of the Moffett Field Museum, who says the museum aims to be a 'center for heritage and innovation' where visitors can learn about the past, present, and future.

Glenn Wilson

A Mountain View resident who served as a soldier during World War I, and whose uniform and memoir excerpts are featured in the museum's exhibit.

Melanie Kaye

A volunteer at the Moffett Field Museum who discovered the museum for the first time last summer and has since learned something new with each visit.

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What they’re saying

“People are less and less interested in things behind glass and sterile displays. We want people to be able to climb into things. We want them to touch them. We want to be able to grab attention and educate on a different level.”

— Tyler Nelson, Senior Docent

“I like to think of us as being a center for heritage and innovation. We're a place where you can come and see where we've been, where we are, but more importantly, where we can go.”

— Jeff Wasel, Executive Director

“I have never had so much fun in retirement.”

— Melanie Kaye, Volunteer

What’s next

The museum is working on a deal to rent a larger building on Moffett Field, which would allow them to expand their exhibits and create additional permanent galleries. If the WWI display is taken down in a few months, the museum hopes to preserve most of it so it can potentially be resurrected and expanded at the new location.

The takeaway

The Moffett Field Museum's immersive World War I exhibit demonstrates a shift in museum practices towards more engaging, hands-on experiences that can capture the attention of modern audiences. By allowing visitors to step into the past, the museum aims to educate and inspire in a way that goes beyond traditional 'sterile displays'.