Stories of Service

Relative Scale designed and developed a collection of media experiences throughout the museum, helping guests connect with the people and pivotal moments behind the 101st Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group (the Green Berets), 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (the Night Stalkers), and the broader Fort Campbell community. 

The museum’s signature experience takes place aboard an authentic MH-47 Chinook helicopter, known by call sign Army 783. Before boarding this macro-artifact, a pre-flight briefing prepares guests for the mission and introduces the aircraft, crew, and historical context. Inside the Chinook, synchronized projections, spatial audio, lighting, and other special effects transform the aircraft into an immersive flight experience inspired by a real special operations mission. 

Integrated into scenic tableaus representing different global conflicts over the last 85 years, a series of films illuminates each conflict, exploring the missions and impact of the U.S. military throughout these decades. Beginning with World War II, the film series continues through the Korean War, the Pentomic Era, the Vietnam War and its aftermath, the Gulf War, the Global War on Terror, and the Afghanistan War. Drawing on a rich collection of archival media, these films capture the human experience behind each conflict, bringing history to life through the voices and perspectives of those who lived it. 

Large-scale wall projections blend archival imagery to place guests within defining moments across generations of service. Carefully choreographed across the gallery architecture, these cinematic presentations create an atmospheric backdrop while expanding the stories surrounding the museum’s artifacts and exhibits. 

Two interactive experiences explore the specialized roles driving two of the Army’s most elite units: the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 5th Special Forces Group. Through these displays, guests discover the diverse Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that make these units function, gaining insight into how each individual role contributes to mission success. 

Another experience allows guests to explore the six aircraft operated by the Night Stalkers. Guests can examine a digital model of each airframe, discovering its specific mission role, technical capabilities, and what makes it uniquely suited to the demands of special operations aviation.