Hawthorne, Nevada is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's over 70 miles from any large city and has a population of fewer than 3,000 people. But it does have the world’s largest artillery storage facility. In 1926, after lightening struck a building at the New Jersey Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Storage Depot and started a fire that exploded 600,000 tons of munitions, destroyed 187 buildings, and killed 19 people, the US Congress established a Board of Officers to find an isolated spot to store munitions. Hawthorne with about 200 residents at the time and surrounded by the flat terrain of an ancient lake bed was perfect. Construction started in 1928 and by WWII the base employed 5,625 people and stored most of the munitions used in the war. Today far fewer people are employed but the base is still the main reason of the existence of the town.
The museum is packed with inert missiles, bombs, rockets,and nuclear weapons plus displays of guns, uniforms, miscellaneous artifacts, photographs, and even a tank. A little disturbing but interesting. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable.
Check the hours before going. We didn't realize the museum closed early on Saturday and didn't have enough time to see everything. There are exhibits outside that can be explored when the museum is closed. The base where the live munitions are stored is off limits but you can see the structures from highway.
The museum is packed with inert missiles, bombs, rockets,and nuclear weapons plus displays of guns, uniforms, miscellaneous artifacts, photographs, and even a tank. A little disturbing but interesting. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable.
Check the hours before going. We didn't realize the museum closed early on Saturday and didn't have enough time to see everything. There are exhibits outside that can be explored when the museum is closed. The base where the live munitions are stored is off limits but you can see the structures from highway. 
You know, we've been through there a number of times, but have never stopped. Didn't know they had a museum, though, like you said, seeing so many weapons of war would be disturbing! Crazy kind of museum!
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