WATCH: Jordan displays military tech Israel faced in early wars
The Royal Tank Museum, inaugurated in January by King Abdullah, has been carefully selecting and refurbishing military vehicles for close to 10 years.
By REUTERSTank museum retells Jordan's military history (Reuters)
A tank museum in Amman showcasing 100 wartime vehicles has been drawing thousands of visitors per day.The Royal Tank Museum, inaugurated in January by King Abdullah, has been carefully selecting and refurbishing military vehicles for close to 10 years.Some of the items on display include tanks used in the Great Arab Revolt as well as various battles with neighboring Israel.Operations manager of the museum, Tammam Khasawneh, said the main goal of the exhibit is to document the country's history. It highlights the role of Jordan's army "in preserving and building modern Jordan, as well as highlighting the Jordanian role in the Palestinian issue and defending the city of Jerusalem", he said.Jordan lost east Jerusalem and the West Bank to Israel during the Arab-Israeli war in 1967. King Abdullah's Hashemite dynasty is the custodian of the Muslim holy sites in the city.The 20,000 square meter museum includes 13 halls where the vehicles are displayed in chronological order. Sound effects and mannequins of soldiers are included in some exhibits for dramatic effect.Museum administrators say they welcomed more than 13,000 visitors in the first four days of operation.