General Stilwell Museum - Former Residence of Joseph W. Stilwell
Only 4.5 about kilometers southeast of the Chongqing downtown, Stilwell Museum or Former Residence of Joseph W. Stilwell is worth a visit on your Chonging trip. General Joseph Warren Stilwell (1883-1946) was chief commander of US forces in the China-Burma-India Theatre during World War II. In 1942, ranked as a major general, he was dispatched to CBI and was regarded as the best field commander in the entire United States Army. General Stilwell was a true friend of the Chinese people as well as a Chinese linguist. To recognize Stilwell's contribution to the Burma Road campaign, part of the Burma Road was named the Stilwell Road.
The main building of the Joseph W. Stilwell Museum is the former residence of General Joseph W. Stilwell. It is a three-storied house, including an office, an adjutant room, two meeting rooms, bedrooms and a basement. More than one hundred articles are displayed, such as, household goods, manuscripts and the uniform. In the residence's courtyard, a monument stands in the center and the epigraph is engraved in both English and Chinese. The epigraph was written by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on May 17, 1944.
Chongqing General Stilwell Museum Facts
Who is Joseph Stilwell
Joseph Stilwell (1883–1946): Born in Baratarca, Florida, USA. Graduated from West Point in 1904, served in World War I, and held the position of Military Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in China. From 1926 to 1929, he served as battalion commander and acting chief of staff of the U.S. 15th Infantry Regiment stationed in Tianjin, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. During this period, George Marshall served as the regiment's deputy commander and acting commander, and the two became acquainted. Stilwell visited China multiple times and spoke Chinese.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into World War II, Stilwell was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1942 and dispatched to China. He successively held positions including Chief of Staff of the China Theater, Commander of U.S. Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater, Deputy Commander of Allied Forces in Southeast Asia, Commander of the China-Burma-India Expeditionary Force, and overseer of U.S. aid shipments to China. He was later promoted to General of the Army.
On September 2, 2015, Joseph Stilwell was posthumously awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Stilwell Museum Layout and Architecture
The Chongqing Stilwell Museum is a typical modern building, featuring both international architectural style and local mountainous architectural characteristics of Chongqing. It is of brick-concrete structure, with a 2-story layout and a flat roof. It was designed and constructed by Tao Fuji, the former chief of the Tao Guilin Construction Factory, a major modern Chinese architect.
Built in accordance with the terrain, Former Residence of Joseph W. Stilwell has over 10 rooms of varying sizes, including the general's bedroom, office, conference hall, dining room, living room, as well as the quarters for the adjutant, translator, and security personnel. The ground floor of the old residence faces the river, and there is a wide corridor designed for viewing and cooling off in summer.
In addition, the old residence has a hidden basement floor, with a reinforced concrete structure and a thickness of half a meter, providing good concealment, earthquake resistance, and anti-explosion capabilities.
Exhibitions: What to See
For American citizens planning China tours from USA and wish to visit Chongqing, Stilwell Museum is an interesting place to visit. The museum's extensive collection of precious photographs and artifacts vividly illustrates the glorious history of Chinese and American peoples fighting side by side against fascist aggression during World War II, joining forces with the global community to defend world peace.
“Stilwell in China” chronicles General Joseph Stilwell's five visits to China, focusing on his tenure from 1942 to 1944 as Chief of Staff to Chiang Kai-shek, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied China Theater, and Commander of the U.S. Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater.
“Flying Tigers Air Force” showcases the achievements of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force (renamed the 14th Air Force in 1943), commanded by Claire Chennault, as they collaborated with Chinese forces to secure China's international transport lines and protect the home front from the threat of eight-plane bomber raids.
>> Related reading: Guilin Flying Tiger Heritage Park
“The Hump Flight” chronicles the establishment of the legendary Hump Flight route from India's Assam province to China. This feat—flying over the towering peaks and deep ravines of the Himalayas, the Roof of the World—is hailed as “a pioneering achievement in aviation history.”
“Merrill's Marauders” chronicles a U.S. Army light-equipment long-range reconnaissance unit operating in the China-Burma-India Theater. Its military operations behind Japanese lines and contributions to constructing the Stilwell Road ensured the continuity of China's international transportation routes.
“The U.S. Military Observer Group in Yan'an“ documents the historical fact of General Stilwell dispatching a U.S. military observer group (also known as the “Dixie Mission”) led by Colonel Paul R. B. Bower to Yan'an. The group maintained extensive contacts with Chinese Communist leaders and various anti-Japanese democratic bases.
“Today's Chongqing and the United States” introduces the current relationship between Chongqing and the United States.
Most Important Artifacts in Stilwell Museum
- Medals awarded to General Stilwell
- Japanese command sword captured by U.S. forces and preserved by General Stilwell
- General Stilwell's military uniform, collar insignia, steel helmet, and canteen
- General Stilwell's personal library
- Specialized fuel drums used for transporting gasoline along the Hump
- Photograph album presented to General Stilwell by Marshal Zhu De
- Uniform of a “Hump” pilot
- Signed banknotes from four renowned American generals of World War II
How to Get to Stilwell Museum in Chongqing
By subway: Take Subway Line 1 to Eling Park Station. Exit through Exit 1 and walk approximately 10 minutes to arrive.
By Chongqing city bus: Take Bus Route 262 to Liziba Station. Alight and walk 432 meters to arrive.
