Part of the Military History Corridor
The Americans in Wartime Experience (AWE) will be located on nearly 70 acres in Prince William County, Virginia, just 15 miles south of the Capital Beltway and 22 miles south of Washington, D.C. The property for the site was donated by the Hylton Family, and is situated just south of Potomac Mills Mall, one of Virginia’s most popular tourist destinations.Designed around the site’s natural features, the Experience will benefit from the topography and natural beauty of its surroundings. Visitors will find convenient access to the Experience from a major, bustling highway yet will feel a world away. Nestled in the countryside, the main elements of the Experience will nonetheless immerse visitors in a realistic experience: the Landscapes of War; Visitor Center; Restoration facilities and Aircraft Hangar; Obstacle Course; and a Reenactment Area.
The site design will allow visitors to choose whether to spend time in any one (or more) specific areas or to explore the entire AWE with its mix of indoor and outdoor activities.
Some highlights of the site:
- The AWE will be accessed via I-95, the most traveled highway in the world, at Exit 156, Dale Boulevard.
- Fittingly, this section of I-95 has both been designated as the “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway” and is part of the Purple Heart Trail.
- Over 160,000 drivers pass the Experience site each day.
- 2.6 million people live within a 25-mile radius of the Experience site.
- 5.8 million people live within a 50-mile radius.
- The Experience site is one mile south of Potomac Mills, one of Virginia’s most popular destinations, and near a variety of hotels, restaurants and amenities.
- Ample parking will accommodate individuals, families, student groups, military reunions and more.
